Triglycerides

What are Triglycerides?

Triglycerides are the most common type of fat in your body. When you eat more calories than you need, your body converts the excess into triglycerides and stores them in fat cells for later energy use.

Between meals, hormones release triglycerides to provide fuel. This is a normal, healthy process — problems arise when triglyceride levels stay chronically elevated.

High triglycerides are part of the metabolic syndrome cluster and an independent risk factor for heart disease and pancreatitis.

Normal Ranges

Level	Classification
Below 150 mg/dL	Normal
150–199 mg/dL	Borderline high
200–499 mg/dL	High
500+ mg/dL	Very high

Triglycerides are measured after 9–12 hours of fasting, as recent meals significantly affect levels.

Why It Matters

Cardiovascular Risk

High triglycerides contribute to arterial plaque buildup (atherosclerosis), increasing risk of heart attack and stroke. They're especially concerning when combined with low HDL cholesterol.

Pancreatitis Risk

Very high triglycerides (above 500 mg/dL) can trigger acute pancreatitis, a serious and painful inflammation of the pancreas.

Metabolic Health Indicator

Elevated triglycerides often signal insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction, even before blood sugar levels become abnormal.

What Raises Triglycerides

Diet

Refined carbohydrates — White bread, pasta, sugary foods
Added sugars — Especially fructose and high-fructose corn syrup
Excessive alcohol — Even moderate drinking raises levels
Excess calories — Any surplus gets converted to triglycerides

Lifestyle

Sedentary behavior
Obesity, especially abdominal fat
Smoking

Medical Conditions

Type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance
Hypothyroidism
Kidney disease
Certain medications (steroids, beta-blockers, some diuretics)

How to Lower Triglycerides

Triglycerides are highly responsive to lifestyle changes:

Reduce refined carbs and sugars — This often has the biggest impact
Limit alcohol — Or eliminate it entirely if levels are very high
Increase omega-3 fatty acids — Fatty fish, fish oil
Exercise regularly — Helps burn triglycerides for energy
Lose excess weight — Even modest weight loss helps
Replace saturated fats with unsaturated fats

Triglycerides vs. Cholesterol

Both are lipids (fats), but they differ:

Triglycerides store unused calories as energy reserves
Cholesterol is used for building cells and hormones

You can have high triglycerides with normal cholesterol, or vice versa. Both matter for cardiovascular health.

How Often to Test

Adults: Every 4–6 years as part of a lipid panel
Risk factors present: Every 1–2 years
Known high triglycerides: Every 3–6 months during treatment