The thiazolidinedione prescription drugs (Actos®, or pioglitazone, and Avandia®, or rosiglitazone), usually prescribed for pre-diabetes or diabetes, can reduce triglycerides by 30%; Actos® may be more effective than Avandia® in this regard. However, these agents are accompanied by weight gain. Avandia® has also been recently cited as possibly raising risk of heart attack. The fibrate class of prescription drugs (fenofibrate, or Tricor®, and gemfibrozil, or Lopid®) reduce triglycerides 30-40%, i.e., almost as effectively as fish oil.
Reduction in triglycerides cascades into multiple "downstream" benefits, including reduced VLDL. Less VLDL means less LDL cholesterol, particularly the dangerous small LDL particles. It also means higher HDL cholesterol. Nutritional efforts to reduce triglycerides, like reduction of snack foods and processed carbohydrates, can also mean more weight loss, less abdominal fat, lower blood sugar, lower blood pressure, reduced inflammatory responses, and just plain feeling better. Imagine that.
Should we regard triglycerides as the most important number on your cholesterol panel?
Perhaps, though HDL and LDL are important in their own ways, too. It certainly should never be ignored.
To find out more about the importance of triglycerides to managing your cholestrol, read this.
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