Triglycerides: Why these numbers matter in a cholesterol report

In simple words, triglycerides are a type of fat or lipid found in the blood. You must have seen the range and level of triglycerides in your blood when getting a cholesterol test done.

How are triglycerides formed in the body? When you eat food, any calorie that your body does not need gets converted into triglycerides. These are stored in the fat cells and are released for energy in between two consecutive meals.

The normal range of triglycerides in the body is less than 150 milligrams per deciliter.

Usually when we talk about cholesterol we refer to LDL or the low density lipoprotein; very less is talked about triglycerides.

In this article we will explore why triglyceride levels are important to know?

"Monitoring triglyceride levels helps in assessing an individual's cardiovascular health and identifying potential risk factors, it helps in early risk assessment, it provides a comprehensive picture of a person's lipid profile," says Dr. Bimal Chhajer, a former consultant at AIIMS and the founder of SAAOL (Science and Art of Living).

"Triglycerides are a type of fat in our body. 95% of ingested fat remains in the body in the form of Triglycerides," Dr. Bharat Vijay Purohit, Sr. Consultant Interventional Cardiologist & Director of Cath Lab, Yashoda hospitals Hyderabad says.

"They are different from cholesterol. When we eat the excess unused calories ingested by the body is converted to triglycerides and stored. High triglycerides are a marker of diabetes mellitus metabolic syndrome, hypothyroidism and several genetic diseases," he adds.

Dr Chhajer says, high triglyceride levels in the blood can increase the risk of several health complications, including:

Cardiovascular disease: High triglyceride levels are linked to an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease. Excessive triglycerides can contribute to the accumulation of plaque in the arteries, causing them to narrow and restricting blood flow. Consequently, this heightened risk of impaired blood flow increases the likelihood of experiencing conditions such as heart attacks and strokes.

Pancreatitis: Extremely high triglyceride levels (above 1,000 mg/dL) can trigger pancreatitis, which is the inflammation of the pancreas.

Metabolic syndrome: High triglyceride levels often coexist with other metabolic abnormalities, including abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, insulin resistance.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): Elevated triglycerides can contribute to the accumulation of fat in the liver, leading to NAFLD. This condition can impair liver function and increase the risk of liver-related complications.

Type 2 diabetes: High triglyceride levels are often associated with insulin resistance, a condition where the body's cells do not respond properly to insulin. Insulin resistance is a key factor in the development of type 2 diabetes, a chronic condition characterized by high blood sugar levels.

Excess alcohol intake, taking some medicines like diuretics, contraceptive pills, steroids, beta blockers and some immunosuppressants cause a spike in triglycerides, says Dr Purohit. "Some HIV medications also raise triglycerides," he adds.

In view of the life threatening diseases caused due to high triglycerides, it is necessary to take measures to reduce its level.

"Easiest way to reduce triglycerides is to do regular exercises, avoid sugar and simple carbohydrate intake and avoid eating junk food, aerated drinks and cut down on alcohol intake. If still levels high then drugs like Statins, Fibrates, Niacin, Omega 3 fatty acid and dual PPAR agonist," Dr Purohit recommends.

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