A triglyceride is fat, or lipid, according to Dr. Neil Campbell and his colleagues in "Biology." Triglycerides commonly circulate in the bloodstream and are stored in the body. Although triglycerides are needed to maintain good health, the risk of heart disease increases with high triglyceride levels in the blood. Lifestyle plays a major role in developing high triglyceride levels.
Energy
Triglycerides are a dense energy source for the body. A triglyceride provides 9 kilocalories per gram, which is more than twice the energy of carbohydrate and protein, according to "Biology." Triglycerides are stored in the body to be used as energy in times when food is not plentiful and during endurance exercise of low intensity, such as long distance walking.
Levels in Blood
Triglyceride levels vary depending upon food intake and level of activity. A sedentary person who eats fatty foods is likely to have a higher triglyceride level than a physically active person who maintains a low-fat diet. Triglyceride levels are determined by drawing blood after fasting for at least 12 hours. According to the American Heart Association, a concentration of triglycerides that is less than 150 milligrams per deciliter, or mg/dl, is the "normal" triglyceride level. The "borderline to high" level is a triglyceride concentration of 150 to 199 mg/dl. A "high" triglyceride level is 200 to 400 mg/dl. More than 499 mg/dl is a "very high" triglyceride level.
Triglycerides and Health
Having a high triglyceride level is a risk factor for heart disease, according to the American Heart Association. Individuals with high triglyceride levels often have other risk factors for heart disease, including obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol. Pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas, may occur when triglyceride levels are over 500 mg/dl in the body.
Causes of High Triglycerides
Lifestyle is a primary contributor to high triglyceride levels, according to the American Heart Association. The lifestyle risk factors include being overweight or obese, smoking cigarettes, being sedentary, regularly consuming much alcohol, and eating a high-carbohydrate diet. In some cases, a high triglyceride level is caused by a genetic disorder that involves how the body breaks down or produces fat. Health conditions, such as diabetes, an underactive thyroid or kidney disease, may cause elevated triglyceride levels.
How to Lower Triglyceride Levels
Triglyceride levels may be lowered through lifestyle changes, according to Dr. Alice Lichtenstein and her colleagues in the July 2006 issue of "Circulation." Some of these lifestyle changes include losing weight, limiting fat intake, getting more exercise, drinking less alcohol, eating less sugar and eating more vegetables and whole grains.
References
- American Heart Association: Your Triglyceride Level
- "Biology"; Neil Campbell, Ph.D., Jane Reece, Ph.D., and Lawrence Mitchell, Ph.D.; 2001.
- "Circulation"; Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations Revision 2006: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association Nutrition Committee; Alice Lichtenstein, Dsc, Lawrence Appel, MD, Michael Brands, PhD, Mercedes Carnethon, PhD, Stephen Daniels, MD, PhD, Harold Franch, MD, Barry Franklin, PhD, Penny Kris-Etherton, PhD, William Harris, PhD, Barbara Howard, PhD, Njeri Karanja, PhD, Michael Lefevre, PhD, Lawrence Rudel, MD, PhD, Frank Sacks, MD, Linda Van Horn, PhD, Mary Winston, EdD; Judith Wylie-Rosett, EdD; July 2006.
