Triglycerides are a type of fat carried in the blood; excess triglycerides not used for energy are stored in fat cells. Triglyceride levels are often measured along with cholesterol levels as part of a lipid profile. Triglycerides form from foods you eat but don't come only from fats; excess carbohydrates are also converted into triglycerides for storage. High levels of triglyceride may not break down adequately and, like low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, may stick to blood vessel walls, causing atherosclerosis.
Influencing Factors
Timing of a blood test can have a big impact on triglyceride levels. Most experts suggest fasting for around 12 hours before having blood drawn for a triglyceride test, because triglyceride levels can rise significantly after eating, especially if the meal is high in fats. Abstain from alcohol for 48 hours before a triglyceride test, since alcohol can also raise your levels. Triglyceride levels also tend to rise as you age.
Normal Levels
Medical practitioners in the United States consider triglyceride levels below 150 mg/dL to be within the normal range. The average triglyceride level in the U.S. is 134 mg/dL, according to cardiologist Michael Miller, M.D., of the University of Maryland Medical Center. Since triglyceride levels rise after eating, some practitioners like Miller feel that a baseline fasting triglyceride level of 100 mg/dL would keep levels low enough during the day to avoid the risks associated with high triglyceride levels.
Reaching Normal Levels
Dietary changes and increasing exercise levels can help lower triglyceride levels by up to 30 percent, Miller reports. Losing weight and substituting unsaturated fats for saturated and trans fats also help reduce triglyceride levels. Eliminating or reducing alcohol intake can help reduce triglyceride levels in some people, since alcohol increases your liver's triglyceride production. Some medications can increase your risk of developing high triglycerides, but do not change or stop taking medications without your medical practitioner's approval. To lower your triglyceride levels, you may need to take medications such as high-dose prescription fish oil; statins; and niacin, a high-dose B-complex vitamin.
Benefits
Like cholesterol, excess amounts of triglyceride in the blood may increase the risk of developing atherosclerosis and heart disease. High triglyceride levels are often part of the metabolic syndrome characterized by high blood sugar, high blood pressure, excess abdominal fat around the waist and high cholesterol -- which can cause heart disease and diabetes. If cholesterol levels fall within the normal range, elevated triglyceride levels may not be as significant a risk for heart disease, but they may increase the risk of developing diabetes or pancreatitis, which is inflammation in the pancreas, McKesson Health Solutions states.
