High Triglycerides (Hypertriglyceridemia)

What Causes Hypertriglyceridemia?

When you eat, your body converts calories it doesn't immediately need into triglycerides, which are stored in fat cells. Later, hormones stimulate the release of triglycerides for energy between meals. Regularly eating more calories than you burn will increase triglyceride levels. Additional risk factors include:

• Eating a high-fat, high-carbohydrate diet.
• Excess weight or obesity.
• Certain medical conditions like diabetes, hypothyroidism, kidney disease or liver disease.
• Medications like diuretics or corticosteroids.
• High LDL or low HDL cholesterol.
• Sedentary lifestyle.
• Chronic stress.

Diagnosis of High Triglycerides

Hypertriglyceridemia typically does not cause any noticeable symptoms and often goes undiagnosed and untreated. The only way to diagnose the condition is through regular blood tests, often performed at an annual physical exam. The frequency of testing will vary depending on baseline findings and your risk factors for heart disease, including a family history.

In general, optimal goal levels should be:

• Less than 150 mg/dL for otherwise healthy adults or other risk factors.
• Less than 135 mg/dL for people with heart disease.

Managing High Triglycerides With Lifestyle Modifications

High triglyceride treatment primarily focuses on lifestyle modifications, including:

• Eat a healthy diet. A low-sodium diet high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains can help lower triglyceride levels. Foods high in saturated fat and trans-fat and highly processed foods should be avoided or eliminated.
• Increase physical activity. A sedentary lifestyle increases the risk for hypertriglyceridemia.
• Lose weight. Losing even a small amount of weight can significantly lower triglyceride levels.
• Limit or eliminate alcohol. Alcohol can damage the liver and raise triglycerides.
• Manage stress. Chronic stress can contribute to high triglycerides.
• Quit smoking. Smoking can raise triglyceride levels.

Treatment of High Triglycerides

If lifestyle modifications are not enough to lower triglycerides, your doctor may prescribe medications and supplements to help bring them down to optimal levels. These may include:

• Statins. Although primarily used to lower LDL cholesterol, statins can also help lower triglycerides.
• Fibrates. These medications can help lower triglycerides and raise HDL (good) cholesterol.
• Fish-oil supplements. Icosapent ethyl, a fish-oil derivative that contains a highly purified form of the omega-3 fatty acid, ethyl eicosapentaenoic acid, can help lower triglycerides.