If your doctor has asked you to fast for a test usually for hours then your triglyceride level should be below 1. This "fasting test" number is lower because only the triglycerides made by the liver and carried in the VLDL cholesterol will be measured — not the triglycerides you get from food.
As you have not eaten, there will be no chylomicrons present in your blood. Triglycerides can be raised due to what doctors refer to as 'primary' and 'secondary' causes, explained below. Some people have a combination of both. It is very important that your doctors investigates all these potential causes so that you can start treatment.
People with high triglyceride levels often have low HDL cholesterol good cholesterol as well. This is an unhealthy combination of blood fats that's often linked with premature heart disease. People with Type 2 diabetes usually have high LDL cholesterol bad cholesterol as well. This type of cholesterol is 'atherogenic', meaning it clogs up the arteries, leading to heart attacks and strokes. As with many conditions that raise blood fats, diet and lifestyle changes are the cornerstones of treatment.
Triglycerides tend to be very responsive to changes in diet and lifestyle. Reach and maintain a healthy body weight Regular exercise and losing weight if you need to can often lower triglyceride levels significantly.
The most common causes of high triglycerides are obesity and poorly controlled diabetes. If you are overweight and are not active, you may have high triglycerides, especially if you eat a lot of carbohydrate or sugary foods or drink a lot of alcohol. Binge drinking of alcohol can cause dangerous spikes in triglyceride levels that can trigger inflammation of the pancreas pancreatitis.
Other causes of high triglycerides include hypothyroidism , kidney disease, and certain inherited lipid disorders. Estrogen therapy , which may be used for menopause symptoms, may also raise triglyceride levels.
Certain medicines may also raise triglycerides. These medicines include:. High triglycerides are a part of metabolic syndrome , a group of medical problems that increase your risk of heart attack, stroke, and diabetes. Metabolic syndrome includes:. High triglycerides by themselves do not cause symptoms. If your high triglycerides are caused by a genetic condition, you may have visible fatty deposits under the skin called xanthomas.
In rare cases, people who have very high triglyceride levels may develop inflammation of the pancreas pancreatitis , which can cause sudden, severe abdominal belly pain, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, and fever. Triglycerides are categorized as follows: footnote 2. If you have high triglycerides, you may also have high cholesterol.
In many cases, people don't know that they have high triglycerides until they have a blood test called a lipoprotein analysis to check their cholesterol levels. If your triglyceride levels are high, your doctor will also check for and treat other associated conditions that may be linked to high triglycerides. These conditions include diabetes , hypothyroidism , kidney disease , and metabolic syndrome.
You may also take medicines to lower triglyceride levels. Medicines may be used if you have risk factors for coronary artery disease CAD.
For more information on cholesterol treatment, see the topic High Cholesterol. Eat a heart-healthy diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, lean meats, and low-fat or nonfat dairy foods. Limit saturated fat and avoid trans fat.
Limit sodium and sugar. Eating fish may lower triglyceride levels. Eating at least 2 servings of fish each week is part of a heart-healthy diet. Oily fish, which contain omega-3 fatty acids, are best for your heart.
These fish include salmon, mackerel, lake trout, herring, and sardines. Fish oil supplements can also lower triglycerides. But doctors do not agree about whether these supplements can help protect your heart. If you have very high triglycerides, your doctor may recommend you take fish oil to try to prevent pancreatitis.
To reduce carbohydrate in your diet, you may want to learn about the amount of carbohydrate in various foods. Alcohol has a particularly strong effect on triglycerides. Regular, excessive use of alcohol or even a one-time drinking binge can cause a significant increase in triglycerides.
Binge drinking can cause a spike in your triglycerides that may trigger pancreatitis. When your body needs energy, it releases the triglycerides. Your VLDL cholesterol particles carry the triglycerides to your tissues. Having a high level of triglycerides can raise your risk of heart diseases , such as coronary artery disease. There is a blood test that measures your triglycerides, along with your cholesterol.
The guidelines for triglyceride levels are. Some people will also need to take cholesterol medicines to lower their triglycerides. The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice.
While triglycerides are an important energy supply for your body, having too many triglycerides in your blood can increase your risk of heart disease. About Having obesity or unmanaged diabetes, regularly drinking alcohol, and following a high calorie diet can all contribute to high blood triglyceride levels.
Whenever you eat more calories than your body needs, your body turns those calories into triglycerides and stores them in fat cells. Working toward a moderate body weight by consuming fewer excess calories can be an effective way to lower your blood triglyceride levels.
While the American Heart Association recommends consuming no more than — calories of added sugar per day, one study found that the average American eats about calories of added sugar daily 4 , 5. Extra sugar in your diet may be turned into triglycerides, which can lead to an increase in blood triglyceride levels, along with other heart disease risk factors.
Another study found that consuming high amounts of added sugar is also associated with higher blood triglyceride levels in children 7. Fortunately, several studies have shown that low carb diets can lead to a decrease in blood triglyceride levels 8 , 9.
Even a simple change such as replacing sugar-sweetened beverages with water could decrease triglycerides in some people Minimizing added sugar in your diet from sugary beverages and sweets can reduce your blood triglyceride levels. Much like added sugar, extra calories from carbs in your diet are converted into triglycerides and stored in fat cells.
Not surprisingly, low carb diets have been linked to lower blood triglyceride levels A review of 12 randomized controlled trials found that people following reduced carb diets typically saw a reduction in triglyceride levels at 6, 12, and 24 months. Across these studies, triglyceride levels decreased the most 6 months after starting a reduced calorie diet A review compared low fat and low carb diets.
Researchers found that 6—12 months after starting their relative diets, those on the low carb diet had greater decreases in triglyceride levels than those on a low fat diet Following a low carb diet can lead to a significant reduction in blood triglyceride levels, at least in the short term, when compared with a low fat diet.
Dietary fiber is found naturally in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Including more fiber in your diet can slow the absorption of fat and sugar in your small intestine, helping decrease your triglyceride levels According to one study including adults with overweight or obesity, eating more dietary fiber was linked to lower triglyceride levels Adding fiber to your diet from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can reduce blood triglyceride levels.
When paired with weight loss, studies show that aerobic exercise is especially effective at decreasing triglycerides The American Heart Association recommends getting at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise 5 days per week, which can include activities like walking, jogging, bicycling, and swimming 18 , The benefits of exercise on triglycerides are most apparent in long-term exercise regimens.
One study in people with heart disease showed that exercising for 45 minutes 5 times per week led to a significant decline in blood triglycerides All exercise helps reduce triglyceride levels.
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