Triglycerides, a type of fat found in the human body, are made of fatty acids and glycerol. According to "Personal Nutrition" by Marie A. Boyle and Sara Long, about 95 percent of the fats in the body and in food are triglycerides.
The American Heart Association says excess food that isn't burned for fuel is converted to triglycerides and stored in the body. Hormones control the release of triglycerides from fat tissue.
Significance
Hypertriglyceridemia is a high triglyceride level. High triglycerides have been linked to coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis (thickening of artery walls) and an increased risk of stroke and heart disease. They can also be a symptom of another illness or disease, such as diabetes.
The Mayo Clinic says high triglycerides could also be a side effect of medications, including birth control pills, diuretics, beta blockers and steroids.
Distinction
According to the Mayo Clinic, triglycerides and cholesterol are different types of fat that are found in the body. Triglycerides provide energy, while cholesterol builds cells and helps hormones.
Testing
Triglyceride levels are tested with a blood test after fasting all night. According to the National Heart Association, the National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines for triglycerides are as follows: A normal triglyceride level is less than 150 mg/dL; a borderline high triglyceride level is 150 to 199 mg/dL; a high triglyceride level is 200 to 499 mg/dL, and a very high triglyceride level is 500 mg/dL or higher.
Benefits
Benefits of having a normal level of triglycerides include health and longevity, and having less risk of heart disease.
Prevention/Solution
If your triglyceride levels are above normal, they can be lowered by adhering to a healthy lifestyle.
The AHA recommends maintaining a healthy body weight, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables daily, cutting back on alcohol consumption, exercising, controlling high blood pressure and stopping smoking.
The AHA also recommends substituting saturated fats with monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats and eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids. Examples would be salmon, mackerel and sardines. Olive oil and canola oil are examples of healthy fats.
Considerations
People with high triglycerides sometimes have metabolic syndrome, which is a conglomeration of metabolic risk factors that also include increased fat around the waist, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
According to AHA, those who have metabolic syndrome have a higher risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease and type 2 diabetes. More than 50 million Americans are estimated to have metabolic syndrome.
References
- Personal Nutrition; Marie A. Boyle and Sara Long; 2007
- American Heart Association
- Mayo Clinic
