What are triglycerides?
Like cholesterol, triglycerides belong to the large group of dietary fats. They are absorbed with food via the intestine, for example in the form of butter, sausage or dairy products. The body then stores the triglycerides in fatty tissue, from which they can be released when energy is required.
The body is also able to produce triglycerides itself. This mainly takes place in the liver, but also in fatty tissue.
Triglycerides: definition and metabolism
Triglycerides consist of a glycerol molecule that is linked to three fatty acids. When they are broken down, special enzymes (lipases) split the triglycerides back into glycerol and fatty acids. The glycerol is then released into the blood. The fatty acids are fed into another degradation cycle.
When are triglycerides determined?
A doctor determines various blood values to clarify a wide range of symptoms and diseases. Triglycerides are often one of them. Among other things, they are determined in cases of suspected lipid metabolism disorders. Such a suspicion exists, for example, in patients who have visible fat deposits on the skin (so-called xanthelasma). The laboratory values then provide more precise information about the cause.
Triglycerides: normal values
The doctor needs a blood sample to determine the blood lipids. To ensure that the value is as unaffected as possible, the patient should not eat or drink alcohol for around eight to twelve hours before the blood sample is taken.
The concentration of triglycerides in the serum should not exceed 200 mg/dl in adults. However, for patients with pre-existing conditions such as diabetes mellitus or coronary heart disease, values in the lower normal range are generally desirable.
Other normal values apply to children.
When are triglycerides too low?
Low triglyceride values are rather rare in affluent nations such as Germany. They can, for example, be an indication of malnutrition, impaired absorption of fats in the intestine or hyperthyroidism. Equally, however, excessive doses of the very medications that are supposed to lower elevated triglyceride levels can also lead to low values.
When are triglycerides elevated?
Triglycerides are too high from a value of 200 mg/dl (adults). This can be caused by a lipid metabolism disorder. If this is congenital, it is referred to as primary hypertriglyceridemia. If it occurs in the context of other diseases, doctors refer to it as secondary hypertriglyceridemia. Elevated triglycerides occur in the following cases, for example:
- Obesity (adiposity)
- chronic metabolic diseases, for example diabetes, Cushing’s disease or gout
- Chronic kidney dysfunction
- pregnancy
- Taking certain medications, for example beta blockers or corticosteroids
What to do if triglycerides are altered?
Hypertriglyceridemia can pose a serious health risk: If triglycerides are above 150 mg/dl, this is a risk factor for the development of diabetes. If the so-called HDL cholesterol (“good” cholesterol) is also low, there is also a risk of vascular diseases such as vascular calcification (arteriosclerosis). Very high levels of triglycerides (over 1,000 mg/dl) can also trigger acute pancreatitis. Elevated blood lipid levels must therefore be normalized as a matter of urgency.
In many cases, a change in lifestyle with sufficient physical activity and a healthy diet is sufficient. If the elevated triglycerides cannot be lowered sufficiently in this way, the doctor can prescribe various lipid-lowering drugs, such as statins or fibrates.
