What are examples of triglycerides?

From the Guidelines

Triglycerides are a type of fat found in your blood and stored in your body's fat cells, with examples including vegetable oils, animal fats, and dietary fats found in foods like avocados, nuts, and fatty fish. Common examples of triglycerides include:

• Vegetable oils like olive oil, canola oil, and corn oil
• Animal fats such as butter, lard, and tallow
• Other dietary fats found in foods like avocados, nuts, and fatty fish In the body, triglycerides are formed when excess calories, especially from carbohydrates, are converted to fat for storage 1. Elevated blood triglyceride levels can be detected through blood tests, with normal levels being less than 150 mg/dL. High triglyceride levels (hypertriglyceridemia) can increase the risk of heart disease and may indicate conditions like metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, or liver disease.

Key Points to Consider

• Triglycerides serve as an important energy source for the body, consisting of three fatty acid chains attached to a glycerol backbone, which gives them their name
• Managing triglyceride levels typically involves dietary changes, regular exercise, limiting alcohol consumption, and sometimes medication if levels remain persistently high
• According to the most recent guidelines, for individuals with fasting triglyceride levels ≥500 mg/dL, evaluation for secondary causes of hypertriglyceridemia and consideration of medical therapy to reduce the risk of pancreatitis is recommended 1
• In adults with hypertriglyceridemia, addressing and treating lifestyle factors, secondary factors, and medications that raise triglycerides is crucial 1

From the FDA Drug Label

Fenofibrate tablets are indicated as adjunctive therapy to diet to reduce elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol (Total-C), Triglycerides and apolipoprotein B (Apo B), and to increase high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in adult patients with primary hypercholesterolemia or mixed dyslipidemia. Fenofibrate tablets are also indicated as adjunctive therapy to diet for treatment of adult patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia.

The FDA drug label does not provide specific examples of triglycerides. It does mention that fenofibrate is used to reduce triglycerides in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia or mixed dyslipidemia and severe hypertriglyceridemia 2.

From the Research

Types of Triglycerides

• Triglycerides are a type of fat found in the blood, and high levels can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease 3
• Triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, including remnant particles, have been shown to be associated with cardiovascular disease risk 3

Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Triglycerides

• Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to decrease triglyceride levels by 21% in patients with hypertriglyceridemia 4
• Omega-3 fatty acids may be a well-tolerated and effective alternative to fibrates and niacin for reducing triglyceride levels 5
• High-dose formulations of omega-3 fatty acids, specifically eicosapentaenoic acid, have been suggested to have benefits on cardiovascular outcomes 3

Comparison of Triglyceride-Lowering Agents

• Fenofibrate therapy has been shown to have substantially better effects on lipoprotein and metabolic profiles in patients with hypertriglyceridemia compared to omega-3 fatty acids 4
• The combination of omega-3 fatty acids and fenofibrate has been shown to decrease triglyceride levels by 41% in patients with hypertriglyceridemia, which is greater than the decrease seen with fenofibrate alone 6
• The addition of omega-3 fatty acids to stable fenofibrate therapy has been shown to result in a statistically significant reduction in triglyceride levels 7

Triglyceride-Lowering Agents and Cardiovascular Disease Risk

• Reducing triglyceride levels has been associated with benefits on rates of cardiovascular disease events 3
• Historical subgroup data from fibrate trials suggest benefits in patients with high triglyceride to HDL ratios, but seem to add little to optimized statin therapy 3
• Further studies with newer agents, such as pemafibrate and vupanorsen, are required to determine the place of triglyceride-lowering drugs in therapeutic pathways 3