Your total serum triglyceride level is the amount of triglycerides present in your blood. Triglycerides, or triacylglycerols, are a type of fat present in foods and synthesized by your body. A normal serum triglyceride level is less than 150 mg/dL. Higher levels may contribute to hardening of the arteries, which increases your risk of stroke and heart disease, according to MayoClinic.com.
Dietary Triglycerides
Triglycerides are found in many common foods. In fact, any food that contains fat has some amount of triglycerides. Triglycerides consist of three fatty acids attached to a glycerol backbone. Fatty acids are classified based on the presence and position of double bonds they contain. Saturated fatty acids are solid at room temperature and are found in foods such as margarine and marbled meat. Unsaturated fatty acids are present in vegetable oils, nuts and seeds.
Stored Energy
In your body, triglycerides act as a storage form of energy. When you eat more calories than your body requires, your liver converts the excess into triglycerides, which travel through the blood and are stored in fat cells located throughout your body. Triglycerides can be used to provide energy between meals or during periods of fasting.
Triglyceride Levels
A simple blood test can measure your serum triglycerides. This test is commonly part of the cholesterol panel, which also measures your total cholesterol level as well as your level of HDL, or "good" cholesterol, and LDL, or "bad" cholesterol. Triglycerides below 150 mg/dL are considered normal. Borderline high is 150 to 199 mg/dL. High levels are between 200 and 499 mg/dL, and very high levels are 500 mg/dL or above.
Tips
Because high triglycerides may contribute to heart disease and related conditions, it is wise to keep levels within normal range. If you have elevated triglycerides, MayoClinic.com recommends losing weight if you are overweight, in addition to reducing calorie consumption. Also, avoid processed and refined foods, as the sugars present in these foods can increase triglycerides. It is also a good idea to limit your cholesterol intake and avoid foods containing trans fats. If the label reads "partially hydrogenated oil," stay away.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Triglycerides: Why do they matter?; June 2010
- "Biochemistry"; Richard A. Harvey, Ph.D.; 2010
