Lipids are fatty, waxy or oily substances that do not dissolve in water. Lipid molecules are made of hydrogen, carbon and oxygen, according to the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. Lipids include fat, cholesterol, triglycerides, steroids, hormones and other waxy chemicals. Cholesterol and triglycerides are both types of lipids. High cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the bloodstream are indicators of elevated risk for heart disease.
Anatomy
Your intestines absorb fat from food you eat. Your body transfers fat to the liver, where it is converted into cholesterol and triglycerides. Your liver uses most of the bile to make bile acids. A small amount of cholesterol enters the bloodstream. Fat cells store the majority of triglycerides, but some float through the bloodstream to provide energy to muscles. Nearly all of the fat in food and in your body is in the form of triglycerides.
Testing
A medical laboratory measures triglycerides as part of the normal cholesterol screen to determine a person's risk for heart disease. High levels usually indicate elevated risk for cardiovascular disease, like heart attack or stroke. This test, called a lipid panel, usually measures total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglycerides. Triglyceride levels are sensitive to food intake and can rise five to 10 times higher after a meal. Refrain from eating or drinking anything but water for nine to 12 hours before having your blood drawn. Triglycerides may rise dramatically after consuming alcohol. Do not drink alcohol within 24 hours of having your blood cholesterol measured.
Levels
Triglyceride measurements of 150 mg/dL are healthy, according to LabTestsOnline.org. Fasting triglyceride levels of 200 to 499 mg/dL are borderline high, with levels of over 500 mg/dL considered to be high. Triglyceride levels over 1,000 mg/dL increase the risk of developing pancreatitis, and treatment to reduce triglycerides should begin immediately.
Causes
High triglycerides share some of the same causes as elevated levels of other types of lipids. A person who is physically inactive, overweight or obese, smokes, drinks alcohol, has other conditions such as diabetes mellitus or kidney disease, or genetic factors has increased risk for high cholesterol and high triglycerides.
Treatment
Treatment for high cholesterol and high triglycerides in the blood starts with a healthy diet, low in fat and calories and high in fiber from vegetables and whole-grain products. Treatment may include starting an exercise program, coupled with smoking cessation and reduced alcohol consumption. Your doctor may prescribe medications such as statins, niacin, fibrates and omega-3 supplements if diet, exercise and lifestyle changes are not enough to reduce your triglyceride and cholesterol levels.
