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High Triglycerides
Triglyceride is a form of fat made in
the body. Elevated triglycerides can be due
to overweight/obesity, physical inactivity,
cigarette smoking, excess alcohol consumption and a diet
very high in carbohydrates (60 percent of total
calories or more). People with high triglycerides often
have a high total cholesterol level, including a high
LDL (bad) level and a low HDL (good) level. Many people
with heart disease and/or diabetes also have high triglyceride levels.
What are
triglycerides?
Triglycerides are the
chemical form in which most fat exists in food as well
as in the body. They're also present in blood plasma
and, in association with cholesterol, form the plasma
lipids.
Triglycerides in plasma are
derived from fats eaten in foods or made in the body
from other energy sources like carbohydrates. Calories
ingested in a meal and not used immediately by tissues
are converted to triglycerides and transported to fat
cells to be stored. Hormones regulate the release of
triglycerides from fat tissue so they meet the body's
needs for energy between meals.
How is an excess of
triglycerides harmful?
Excess triglycerides in
plasma is called hypertriglyceridemia. It's linked to
the occurrence of coronary artery disease in some
people. Elevated triglycerides may be a consequence of
other disease, such as untreated diabetes mellitus. Like
cholesterol, increases in triglyceride levels can be
detected by plasma measurements. These measurements
should be made after an overnight food and alcohol
fast.
The National Cholesterol
Education Program guidelines for triglycerides
are:
| Normal |
Less than 150
mg/dL |
| Borderline-high |
150 to
199 mg/dL |
| High |
200 to 499 mg/dL |
| Very
high |
500
mg/dL or higher |
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These are based on
fasting plasma triglyceride
levels. |
American Heart
Association
(AHA) Recommendation — Dietary treatment
goals
Changes in lifestyle habits are the
main therapy for hypertriglyceridemia. These are the
changes you need to make:
- If you're overweight,
cut down on calories to reach your ideal body weight.
This includes all sources of calories, from fats,
proteins, carbohydrates and alcohol.
- Reduce the saturated
fat, trans fat and cholesterol content of your
diet.
- Reduce your intake of
alcohol considerably. Even small amounts of alcohol
can lead to large changes in plasma triglyceride
levels.
- Eat fruits, vegetables
and nonfat or low-fat dairy products most often.
- Get at least 30 minutes
of moderate-intensity physical activity on five
or more days each week.
- People with high
triglycerides may need to substitute monounsaturated
and polyunsaturated fats —such as those found in
canola oil, olive oil or liquid
margarine — for saturated fats.
Substituting carbohydrates for fats may
raise triglyceride levels and may decrease HDL
("good") cholesterol in some people.
- Substitute fish high in
omega-3 fatty acids instead of meats high in saturated
fat like hamburger. Fatty fish like mackerel, lake
trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna and salmon are
high in omega-3 fatty acids.
Because other risk factors
for coronary artery disease multiply the hazard from
hyperlipidemia, control high blood pressure and avoid
cigarette smoking. If drugs are used to treat
hypertriglyceridemia, dietary management is still
important. Patients should follow the specific plans
laid out by their physicians and
nutritionists.
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