2023-11-22 09:36:47
Triglycerides are blood fats and are an important source of energy and energy storage for the body. However, if the triglyceride level is too high, the risk of heart and vascular diseases increases. What value is normal and what are the causes if triglycerides are too high?
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Quick overview: triglycerides
Was sind Triglyceride?: Like cholesterol, triglycerides are dietary fats. They are an important source of energy and energy storage for the body.
Normal values: Generally, triglyceride levels between 150 to 200 mg/dl are considered normal. However, the limit can vary.
Triglycerides too high: High triglyceride levels increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and pancreatitis. The cause of elevated triglyceride levels can be an unhealthy lifestyle or illnesses such as diabetes mellitus.
Triglycerides too low: Triglyceride levels that are too low are very rare in this country. The triggers are often malnutrition and an overactive thyroid.
Article contents at a glance:
Triglycerides too high? How to lower the value!
Was sind Triglyceride?
Triglycerides (also neutral fats) belong to the group of fats or lipids that circulate in the blood. Chemically speaking, they are composed of glycerin and three different fatty acids.
They are an important energy supplier and energy store for the body: the body stores excess energy in the form of triglycerides in fatty tissue until it is needed once more.
Triglycerides are formed in the liver and are mainly consumed with food – around 90 percent of all dietary fats are triglycerides. They come, for example, from butter, meat, dairy products and other fatty and sugary foods.
Triglycerides: when is the value determined?
If the triglycerides in the blood are too high or too low, this usually does not cause any symptoms. However, values that are too high can lead to long-term damage.
During a blood test, the doctor determines the triglyceride levels in order to classify the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks, strokes and also the risk of vascular diseases such as arteriosclerosis.
Triglyceride levels are also measured if there is evidence of a lipid metabolism disorder or inflammation of the pancreas.
During the blood test, the values are always measured and interpreted with the other blood lipid values (total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol).
How are triglyceride levels determined?
The triglyceride level is determined in the blood serum. Patients must be fasting for the blood sample to be taken. This means that you should not have eaten or drunk anything (except water) for eight to twelve hours before the appointment.
Normal range for triglycerides in the blood
The triglyceride values are within the normal range at less than 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl) or 1.7 millimoles per liter (mmol/l).
Please note: Depending on the laboratory, the limit value may be different. A reference value of 180 to 200 mg/dl is sometimes given.
Triglycerides too high: causes
An increased level of triglycerides alone is usually harmless to health. Only in combination with a high level of LDL cholesterol do the risk factors for arteriosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases increase.
Elevated triglyceride levels can also be an indication
The triglyceride value can also increase during pregnancy and when taking medication (cortisone, birth control pills, estrogens, diuretics).
Triglycerides in the blood too low
In general, triglyceride values that are too low (below 75 mg/dl) only occur very rarely. Experts refer to this finding as hypotriglyceridemia. Common causes are undernourishment or malnutrition.
Sometimes an overdose of medication that is supposed to lower the triglyceride level in the blood is behind hypotriglyceridemia. An overactive thyroid or an autoimmune disease can also lead to low values.
Lower triglyceride levels naturally
The concentration of triglycerides in the blood depends largely on diet. In particular, saturated fatty acids (animal fat in sausages, cheese and fatty meat) and carbohydrates that are quickly broken down by the body (in sugar, confectionery, white flour) have an unfavorable effect on the triglyceride value.
The treatment of a high triglyceride concentration in overweight people primarily consists of reducing weight. Sufficient exercise and a change in diet help to normalize blood lipid levels.
The menu should include plenty of fiber, whole grain products, lots of fresh fruit and vegetables as well as unsaturated fatty acids from vegetable oils and sea fish. On the other hand, stimulants such as sweets, nicotine and alcohol should be avoided if possible.
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