From the Guidelines
Triglycerides are a type of fat (lipid) found in your blood that serve as an important source of energy, and high levels can increase the risk of heart disease and may be a sign of metabolic syndrome. When you eat, your body converts any calories it doesn't need to use right away into triglycerides, which are then stored in your fat cells and released for energy between meals by hormones 1.
Normal Triglyceride Levels
Normal triglyceride levels are less than 150 mg/dL, while levels above 200 mg/dL are considered high, according to the American Heart Association 1.
Maintaining Healthy Triglyceride Levels
To maintain healthy triglyceride levels:
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Limit sugar and refined carbohydrates
- Exercise regularly
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Choose healthy fats like those found in fish, nuts, and olive oil If lifestyle changes aren't enough, your doctor may prescribe medications such as fibrates, niacin, or omega-3 fatty acids to help lower triglyceride levels, as recommended by the Endocrine Society 1.
Monitoring Triglyceride Levels
Regular blood tests can monitor your triglyceride levels and overall lipid profile, which is essential for assessing cardiovascular risk and guiding treatment decisions 1.
Importance of Lifestyle Changes
Lifestyle changes, such as dietary counseling and weight loss, are crucial in managing hypertriglyceridemia, especially in patients with mild to moderate hypertriglyceridemia 1.
Medications for Hypertriglyceridemia
Fibrates are the first-line treatment in patients with hypertriglyceridemia who are at risk of pancreatitis, while statins may be useful in modifying cardiovascular risk in patients with moderately elevated triglyceride levels 1.
Conclusion is not allowed, so the answer just ends here.
From the FDA Drug Label
The lipid-modifying effects of fenofibric acid seen in clinical practice have been explained in vivo in transgenic mice and in vitro in human hepatocyte cultures by the activation of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor α (PPARα) Through this mechanism, fenofibrate increases lipolysis and elimination of triglyceride-rich particles from plasma by activating lipoprotein lipase and reducing production of apoprotein C-III (an inhibitor of lipoprotein lipase activity)
Triglycerides are a type of lipid, specifically a triglyceride-rich particle, that is found in the plasma. They are composed of three fatty acid chains attached to a glycerol molecule. Elevated levels of triglycerides are associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality 2.
- Key points:
- Triglycerides are a type of lipid
- Elevated levels are associated with increased risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease
- Fenofibrate works to reduce triglyceride levels by activating lipoprotein lipase and reducing production of apoprotein C-III 2
From the Research
Definition and Role of Triglycerides
- Triglycerides are a commonly measured component of lipid profiles 3
- They are a type of lipid particle abundant in the human body and have been found in atherosclerotic plaques 4
- Elevated triglyceride levels are associated with increased risk of future cardiovascular events 4, 5
Relationship to Cardiovascular Disease
- Triglycerides are strongly associated with future risk of diabetes as well as cardiovascular disease 3
- Hypertriglyceridemia is a prevalent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and is increasingly important in the setting of current obesity and insulin resistance epidemics 6
- Triglyceride-rich particles form a component of cardiovascular risk above that delineated by low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol 3
Management and Treatment
- Additional methods to lower triglycerides include niacin, fibrates, and omega-3 fatty acids 3
- Trials in monotherapy with both niacin and fibrates suggest some benefit in reducing CVD events based on evidence mostly derived from older studies 3
- Reduction of severely elevated triglycerides is important to avert or reduce the risk of pancreatitis 7
- Interventions for hypertriglyceridemia include diet and lifestyle, established treatments such as fibrates and omega-3 fatty acid preparations, and emerging therapies, including various biological agents 7