Why Should We Know About Triglycerides? Life-or-death issue, yes?

As the National Lipid Association says, “When we eat, our body takes the triglycerides, and it doesn’t immediately need and stores them in fat cells to be used later as fuel. While triglycerides are important for your body’s normal function, high levels of triglycerides can cause health problems.”

More to follow.

I went to the doctor for my annual wellness visit, followed by a Complete Blood Count (CBC), used to measures amounts and sizes of your red blood cells, hemoglobin, white blood cells and platelets. But you should always ask for a lipid panel test, too (I always ask), measuring your triglycerides. So what are triglycerides?

Triglycerides are a type of fat, the most common type of fat in your body. They come from foods, especially butter, oils, other fats you eat, and extra calories. If you eat more calories than you need, your body turns the extra calories into triglycerides and stores them in your fat cells to use later. When your body needs energy, your cells release triglycerides into your bloodstream to provide fuel for your muscles to work.

Though some triglycerides are important for good health, having a high level of triglycerides can raise your risk of heart diseases, such as coronary artery disease, likelihood of stroke, and blood vessel disorders. Extremely high levels of triglycerides also increase the risk of acute pancreatitis in adults and children.

In addition, a triglyceride level of 150 mg/dL or higher is also a risk factor for metabolic syndrome, which are chances for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. High blood triglycerides are very common and have many possible causes, including eating a lot of foods that are high in fat and sugar, and other simple carbohydrates (or “carbs”) such as foods made with white flour (all triglyceride levels shown below). 

Examples of food with high triglycerides (read the label) include:

• Sugary drinks like fruit juice and punch
• Sweets like pastries and cake/icing
• Refined and processed carbohydrates
• Fried foods
• Fatty cuts of red meat
• Full-fat dairy products
• Snacks like chips and candy
• Excessive amounts of alcohol

Factors that can raise your triglyceride level include:

• High blood triglyceride levels usually don’t cause any symptoms, so routine testing is important to help you find and treat high triglyceride levels before they harm your health
• Being overweight or having obesity
• Triglyceride levels that are too low are very uncommon
• Regularly eating more calories than you burn off, especially if you eat a lot of sugar
• Certain medicines
• Cigarette smoking
• High blood pressure
• High blood sugar
• Abnormal cholesterol levels
• Poorly controlled type 2 diabetes
• Excessive alcohol use
• Some genetic disorders
• Thyroid diseases
• Liver or kidney diseasesTriglyceride levels that are too low are very uncommon.

Triglyceride levels are measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). The guidelines for triglyceride levels are:

 If your blood triglyceride levels are borderline, your provider may order another blood test called apolipoprotein B or “apo B.” The results of this test can help your provider understand how high your risk of heart and blood vessel problems may be. This process can help you decide about the best treatment to lower your risk.

Your provider may order a lipid profile (again, my provider didn’t–I had to ask for it), including a blood triglycerides test, as part of a routine checkup. How often you need a lipid profile test depends on your age, sex, family history, and your risk of developing heart disease. Ask your provider how often you need to have your blood lipid levels tested.

These are the general recommendations for testing blood lipid levels, including triglycerides, in healthy people:

• For people who are age 19 or younger:
  • The first test should be between ages 9 and 11.
  • Children should have the test again every 5 years.
  • Some children may have this test starting at age 2 if there is a family history of high cholesterol, heart attack, or stroke.
• For people who are ages 20 to 65:
  • Younger adults should have the test every 5 years.
  • Men ages 45 to 65 and women ages 55 to 65 should have it every 1 to 2 years.
• For people older than 65:
  • They should be tested every year.

Sometimes high triglycerides are a side effect of taking certain medications or supplements, such as:

• Diuretics
• Estrogen and progestin
• Retinoids
• Steroids
• Beta blockers
• Some immunosuppressants
• Some HIV medications

You may need to be tested more often if you already have heart disease or have a higher risk for heart disease because you:

• Have a family health history of early heart disease. That means your father or brother had heart disease before age 55 and/or your mother or sister had heart disease before age 65
• Smoke
• Have excess weight or obesity
• Have unhealthy eating habits and/or don’t get enough exercise
• Have prediabetes or diabetes
• Have high blood pressure

 You may need to fast (not eat or drink) for 9 to 12 hours before your blood is drawn. If you tell your provider before the draw, your provider will let you know if you need to fast and if there are any special instructions to follow.

To lower your blood triglycerides, your provider may recommend lifestyle changes, such as:

• Eating heart-healthy foods and limiting added sugar and foods high in saturated fat
• Getting regular physical activity
• Aiming for a healthy weight
• Managing stress
• Quitting smoking
• Getting enough sleep
• Limiting alcohol 
• Taking medicine(s) and/or supplements to lower triglyceride level including statins, fibrates, fish oils, and/or niacin, BUT check with your provider first. All or some have lasting side effects

Triglycerides. Life-or-death issue, yes?