Triglycerides are fats that are measured along with standard cholesterol tests. They are building blocks for a form of cholesterol known as very low density lipoprotein? (VLDL). VLDL can add to your heart disease risk, so triglycerides are a concern. When they are present at very high levels (above 500 mg/dL), triglycerides also irritate the pancreas and can cause pancreatitis.
Triglyceride levels are very sensitive to diet, exercise, and health habits. It is common to have high triglycerides if you are overweight, if you are physically inactive, if you drink alcohol or smoke, or if you consume a high-fat and high-carbohydrate diet, particularly if your carbohydrates are not whole-grain foods. Triglycerides are also elevated in people with diabetes, kidney disease, thyroid disease, and certain inherited cholesterol problems. High triglycerides are one sign of the metabolic syndrome, a collection of health risks that indicate a very high risk of heart disease. It is important for you to be tested for diabetes and to have your blood pressure evaluated, because these are other features of the metabolic syndrome.
It is possible to substantially improve triglycerides by increasing your exercise and sharply cutting the amount of saturated fat and rapidly absorbed carbohydrates (processed flours or simple sugars, including milk sugar) in the diet. You should substitute whole grain foods, fruits and vegetables, skim milk and reduced-fat foods wherever possible. Medications are also available to lower triglycerides, including statins, gemfibrozil (Lopid), fenofibrate (Tricor), niacin, and omega-3 fatty acids.
Current recommendations are to keep the triglycerides well below 500mg/dL, and low enough to reduce your VLDL to safe levels. Your VLDL level is considered safe if it plus your LDL level are no higher together than 130mg/dL. Doctors do not routinely measure VLDL, but if you subtract your HDL cholesterol from your total cholesterol, you can get the LDL plus VLDL sum.
