Bilirubin and triglycerides are normally found circulating in the blood. Elevated levels of either may signal disease. It is unusual to have high bilirubin and triglycerides levels from a single disease without having other symptoms or laboratory abnormalities. If you have been told you have high bilirubin and triglyceride levels, discuss it with your doctor.
Bilirubin
Bilirubin is produced when red blood cells die. Bilirubin circulates through the bloodstream in an unconjugated form, which means there are no other molecules permanently attached. Once in the liver, it is conjugated to other molecules to make it fat-soluble, allowing for excretion in the bile. The type of bilirubin that is elevated helps to determine whether there is a problem with metabolism in the liver, making the unconjugated bilirubin level high, or in the bile excretion system, causing elevated conjugated bilirubin.
Causes of High Bilirubin
Elevated bilirubin levels occur when the body is making too much bilirubin or cannot dispose of bilirubin quickly enough. Processes that destroy red blood cells, including some infections and hereditary conditions, can lead to elevations in unconjugated bilirubin. Inflammation of the liver can also cause high unconjugated bilirubin levels. Blockage of the bile ducts, gall bladder disease or problems with the pancreas can lead to elevated conjugated bilirubin.
Triglycerides
Triglycerides are the main storage form of fat in the body. The liver transforms free fatty acids, usually acquired from dietary intake, into triglycerides, and the triglycerides are then transported into fat cells for storage. When the body needs extra energy, the triglycerides can be released from the fat cells and converted to glucose by the liver.
Causes of High Triglycerides
High blood triglyceride levels can happen for genetic reasons, due to differences in triglyceride-metabolizing enzymes. More commonly, dietary factors are to blame. Obesity and diabetes prevent the body from storing triglycerides properly, and people who have both conditions are at even greater risk. Excessive alcohol consumption also leads to elevated triglycerides. Finally, other diseases like hypothyroidism, kidney disease and HIV infection can cause high triglyceride levels.
High Bilirubin and Triglycerides
Excessive blood triglyceride levels may lead to liver damage, called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. A severely damaged liver from triglyceride elevation may cause liver damage and dysfunction known as cirrhosis. Bilirubin levels rise in people who have cirrhosis. With this degree of liver damage, however, there will be many additional blood factors abnormally elevated or decreased. There are no known conditions that cause only bilirubin and triglycerides to be elevated. If you have only these two abnormal factors, it is most likely that the elevated levels are caused by two separate processes, one affecting the bilirubin and another affecting the triglycerides.
References
- “Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, 9th edition”; Chapter 73: Liver Chemistry and Function Tests; Daniel S. Pratt; 2010
- “Gastrointestinal Physiology”; Chapter 13: Bilirubin Formation and Excretion by the Liver; Kim E. Barrett; 2006
- “Greenspan’s Basic and Clincial Endocrinology, 9th Edition”; Chapter 19: Disorders of Lipoprotein Metabolism; Mary J. Malloy and John P. Kane; 2011
- “New England Journal of Medicine”; Hypertriglyceridemia; John D. Bunzell; September 2007
- PubMed Health; Cirrhosis; George F. Longstreth, MD; December 2010
