Triglycerides are part of your overall blood cholesterol, which also includes low density lipoproteins, or LDL, and high density lipoproteins, or HDL. These fats help your body produce energy, store vitamins and minerals and promote immune function and cell reproduction. Triglycerides are manufactured from the fats and carbohydrates you eat. A healthy blood triglyceride level should be lower than 150 mg/dl, according to the American Heart Association. If your thyroid is overactive, you might have unusually low triglyceride levels. Some researchers believe very low blood cholesterol numbers may not be healthy, though no specific cut-off point has been identified.
Causes of Low Triglycerides
Your triglyceride level may be low due to malabsorption syndromes, undernourishment, a low-fat diet or hyperthyroidism, according to Medline Plus, a National Institutes of Health website. If you can't absorb the nutrients you need -- including fats -- from your food, or you're not getting enough carbohydrates or the right kinds of fats in your diet, the amount of triglycerides circulating in your blood will be lower.
Hyperthyroidism and Low Triglycerides
Your thyroid produces the hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine, also known as T4 and T3, which your body uses to metabolize the food you eat. These hormones help determine how your cells use energy, and triglycerides are responsible for energy production. Hypothyroidism refers to low production of these hormones. If your T4 or T3 levels are too low, you won't need as much of the energy being produced and your triglyceride level will go up. Hyperthyroidism refers to overproduction of T4 and T3. If you have too much of these hormones, your body is gobbling up the energy you're producing, and your triglyceride level goes down. Thyroid hormone levels are determined through a blood test.
Consequences of Low Triglycerides
Most of the triglycerides in your body are stored in fat cells. When you need energy, hormones such as T4 and T3 unlock the triglycerides, which travel through your blood system. Because triglycerides are essential to energy production, the immune system and micronutrient storage, you should expect to have at least some of these fatty acids present in your blood. The consequences of consistently having very low levels of triglycerides in your blood haven't been determined, but very low levels of triglycerides are a symptom of malabsorption syndromes and undernourishment.
Treatments
Talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian if your low triglycerides are the result of irritable bowel syndrome or other malabsorption diseases, as your body will have a hard time getting the nutrients it needs --- including triglycerides --- from the foods you eat. If your low triglyceride level is related to hyperthyroidism, your doctor will need to determine the cause of the hyperthyroidism. The treatment for this condition may be anti-thyroid medications, radioactive iodine treatments or surgical removal of your thyroid gland.
References
- American Heart Association: Triglycerides; May 2010
- TheHeart.org: Cholesterol: How Low is Too Low?; Lisa Nainggolan; January 2007
- Mayo Clinic: Can Your Total Cholesterol Level be Too Low?; Thomas Behrenbeck, M.D., Ph.D.; August 2010
- Medline Plus: Triglyceride Level; David C. Dugdale III, M.D.; May 2010
- Medline Plus: Hyperthyroidism; Ari S. Eckman, M.D.; April 2010
