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High triglyceride levels in the blood

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High triglyceride levels in the blood
Last update: 24/04/2020

What are high triglyceride levels in the blood called?

  • Hypertriglyceridemia

What are the normal triglyceride levels in the blood?

If you need to know which are the reference ranges of triglycerides in the blood or you require more information about the role of triglycerides in the blood, you can visit normal triglyceride levels in the blood

What do high triglyceride levels in the blood mean?

High triglyceride levels in the blood express a higher risk of developing a cardiovascular disease (heart attack, stroke, etc.). The risk is higher in case of overweight. If triglycerides accumulate in the blood, they can block blood flow.

When triglycerides are a bit higher than normal it is advisable to keep a balanced diet and cut down on the intake of fats and reduce the alcohol and tobacco. When triglycerides are very high it requires follow-up and many times, it is necessary to take medication.

Triglyceride values are usually given in mg/dl but sometimes you can see those values in mmol/l following the International System of Units (SI). In case your values are in mmol/l you can convert them using this tool:

mmol/l
  • Mild hypertriglyceridemia (150 - 199 mg/dl in adults):

    Triglyceride values are a bit high but it is not usually a matter for concern.

    You should watch your diet and cut down on the intake of fats and sugars. You should give up smoking and avoid alcohol. In addition, it is advisable to do regular exercise.

    Following those tips, it is probable that in the next blood test your triglyceride levels return to normal range.

  • Moderate hypertriglyceridemia (200 - 499 mg/dl in adults):

    Moderate hypertriglyceridemia increase the risk to suffer a cardiovascular disease. You should follow a strict diet with no alcohol and tobacco. You should try to lose weight if you are overweight.

    You should visit your doctor and he will monitor your levels periodically to know if these measures are enough to reduce triglycerides in the blood. Otherwise, additional screening tests will be necessary to find out the causes.

  • Marked hypertriglyceridemia (500 - 1000 mg/dl in adults):

    Marked hypertriglyceridemia increases the possibility to suffer a sudden cardiovascular disease (heart attack or stroke) so it is important that you speak with your doctor.

    In addition to a strict diet he will decide, if he considers it appropriate, to prescribe you medication to reduce triglycerides levels.

  • Severe hypertriglyceridemia (> 1000 mg/dl in adults):

    If triglycerides levels are over 1000 mg/dl it is more likely that a pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) appears.

    You should visit a doctor as soon as possible to reduce triglyceride levels.

Which factors can raise the triglyceride levels in the blood?

There are some health circumstances or drugs than can raise your triglyceride levels in the blood:

  • Alcohol
  • Low-fat diet and high in carbohydrates
  • Pregnancy
  • Obesity
  • Tobacco
  • Drugs
    • Antibiotics
      • Lincomycin
    • Oral Contraceptives
    • Antidepressant
      • Colestyramine
    • Antiepileptic drugs
      • Phenytoin
    • Antiestrogens
      • Tamoxifen
    • Beta blockers
      • Atenolol
    • Corticosteroids
      • Prednisone
    • Diuretics
      • Furosemide
      • Hydrochlorothiazide
      • Thiazides
    • Female hormones
    • Isotretinoin
    • Uricosuric
      • Allopurinol

Which diseases can raise your triglyceride levels in the blood?

There are many medical diseases why the triglyceride levels in the blood can be higher than normal:

What can I do to lower the triglyceride levels in the blood?

If your triglyceride levels in the blood are a bit high, you should keep in mind the following tips:

  • Lose weight.
  • Do aerobic exercise regularly.
  • Cut down on the fat intake. It is advisable to eat more fish (rich in omega-3).
  • Cut down on the intake of trans fats. These types of fats are present in fried foods and sweet pastries.
  • Give up smoking and alcohol drinking. Although sugar and alcohol are not fats, the body can transform them into fats and then pour them to the bloodstream.
  • Cut down on the calorie intake. The body transforms the excess of calories into triglycerides.

Where can I find more information about triglyceride levels in the blood?

You can visit our pages about:

Which values are considered high triglyceride levels in the blood?

The following values are considered to be above the normal range:

IMPORTANT: These levels are expressed in mg/dl. They are an example of a healthy man of about 45 years old with a balanced diet, no known disease and not taking any medication. The ranges can be different depending on the laboratory or on your personal circumstances.

Triglycerides
Mild hypertriglyceridemia
151 mg/dl152 mg/dl153 mg/dl154 mg/dl155 mg/dl156 mg/dl157 mg/dl158 mg/dl
159 mg/dl160 mg/dl161 mg/dl162 mg/dl163 mg/dl164 mg/dl165 mg/dl166 mg/dl
167 mg/dl168 mg/dl169 mg/dl170 mg/dl171 mg/dl172 mg/dl173 mg/dl174 mg/dl
175 mg/dl176 mg/dl177 mg/dl178 mg/dl179 mg/dl180 mg/dl181 mg/dl182 mg/dl
183 mg/dl184 mg/dl185 mg/dl186 mg/dl187 mg/dl188 mg/dl189 mg/dl190 mg/dl
191 mg/dl192 mg/dl193 mg/dl194 mg/dl195 mg/dl196 mg/dl197 mg/dl198 mg/dl
199 mg/dl200 mg/dl      
Moderate hypertriglyceridemia
201 mg/dl202 mg/dl203 mg/dl204 mg/dl205 mg/dl206 mg/dl207 mg/dl208 mg/dl
209 mg/dl210 mg/dl211 mg/dl212 mg/dl213 mg/dl214 mg/dl215 mg/dl216 mg/dl
217 mg/dl218 mg/dl219 mg/dl220 mg/dl221 mg/dl222 mg/dl223 mg/dl224 mg/dl
225 mg/dl226 mg/dl227 mg/dl228 mg/dl229 mg/dl230 mg/dl231 mg/dl232 mg/dl
233 mg/dl234 mg/dl235 mg/dl236 mg/dl237 mg/dl238 mg/dl239 mg/dl240 mg/dl
241 mg/dl242 mg/dl243 mg/dl244 mg/dl245 mg/dl246 mg/dl247 mg/dl248 mg/dl
249 mg/dl250 mg/dl251 mg/dl252 mg/dl253 mg/dl254 mg/dl255 mg/dl256 mg/dl
257 mg/dl258 mg/dl259 mg/dl260 mg/dl261 mg/dl262 mg/dl263 mg/dl264 mg/dl
265 mg/dl266 mg/dl267 mg/dl268 mg/dl269 mg/dl270 mg/dl271 mg/dl272 mg/dl
273 mg/dl274 mg/dl275 mg/dl276 mg/dl277 mg/dl278 mg/dl279 mg/dl280 mg/dl
281 mg/dl282 mg/dl283 mg/dl284 mg/dl285 mg/dl286 mg/dl287 mg/dl288 mg/dl
289 mg/dl290 mg/dl291 mg/dl292 mg/dl293 mg/dl294 mg/dl295 mg/dl296 mg/dl
297 mg/dl298 mg/dl299 mg/dl300 mg/dl301 mg/dl302 mg/dl303 mg/dl304 mg/dl
305 mg/dl306 mg/dl307 mg/dl308 mg/dl309 mg/dl310 mg/dl311 mg/dl312 mg/dl
313 mg/dl314 mg/dl315 mg/dl316 mg/dl317 mg/dl318 mg/dl319 mg/dl320 mg/dl
321 mg/dl322 mg/dl323 mg/dl324 mg/dl325 mg/dl326 mg/dl327 mg/dl328 mg/dl
329 mg/dl330 mg/dl331 mg/dl332 mg/dl333 mg/dl334 mg/dl335 mg/dl336 mg/dl
337 mg/dl338 mg/dl339 mg/dl340 mg/dl341 mg/dl342 mg/dl343 mg/dl344 mg/dl
345 mg/dl346 mg/dl347 mg/dl348 mg/dl349 mg/dl350 mg/dl351 mg/dl352 mg/dl
353 mg/dl354 mg/dl355 mg/dl356 mg/dl357 mg/dl358 mg/dl359 mg/dl360 mg/dl
361 mg/dl362 mg/dl363 mg/dl364 mg/dl365 mg/dl366 mg/dl367 mg/dl368 mg/dl
369 mg/dl370 mg/dl371 mg/dl372 mg/dl373 mg/dl374 mg/dl375 mg/dl376 mg/dl
377 mg/dl378 mg/dl379 mg/dl380 mg/dl381 mg/dl382 mg/dl383 mg/dl384 mg/dl
385 mg/dl386 mg/dl387 mg/dl388 mg/dl389 mg/dl390 mg/dl391 mg/dl392 mg/dl
393 mg/dl394 mg/dl395 mg/dl396 mg/dl397 mg/dl398 mg/dl399 mg/dl400 mg/dl
401 mg/dl402 mg/dl403 mg/dl404 mg/dl405 mg/dl406 mg/dl407 mg/dl408 mg/dl
409 mg/dl410 mg/dl411 mg/dl412 mg/dl413 mg/dl414 mg/dl415 mg/dl416 mg/dl
417 mg/dl418 mg/dl419 mg/dl420 mg/dl421 mg/dl422 mg/dl423 mg/dl424 mg/dl
425 mg/dl426 mg/dl427 mg/dl428 mg/dl429 mg/dl430 mg/dl431 mg/dl432 mg/dl
433 mg/dl434 mg/dl435 mg/dl436 mg/dl437 mg/dl438 mg/dl439 mg/dl440 mg/dl
441 mg/dl442 mg/dl443 mg/dl444 mg/dl445 mg/dl446 mg/dl447 mg/dl448 mg/dl
449 mg/dl450 mg/dl451 mg/dl452 mg/dl453 mg/dl454 mg/dl455 mg/dl456 mg/dl
457 mg/dl458 mg/dl459 mg/dl460 mg/dl461 mg/dl462 mg/dl463 mg/dl464 mg/dl
465 mg/dl466 mg/dl467 mg/dl468 mg/dl469 mg/dl470 mg/dl471 mg/dl472 mg/dl
473 mg/dl474 mg/dl475 mg/dl476 mg/dl477 mg/dl478 mg/dl479 mg/dl480 mg/dl
481 mg/dl482 mg/dl483 mg/dl484 mg/dl485 mg/dl486 mg/dl487 mg/dl488 mg/dl
489 mg/dl490 mg/dl491 mg/dl492 mg/dl493 mg/dl494 mg/dl495 mg/dl496 mg/dl
497 mg/dl498 mg/dl499 mg/dl500 mg/dl    
Marked hypertriglyceridemia
501 mg/dl502 mg/dl503 mg/dl504 mg/dl505 mg/dl506 mg/dl507 mg/dl508 mg/dl
509 mg/dl510 mg/dl511 mg/dl512 mg/dl513 mg/dl514 mg/dl515 mg/dl516 mg/dl
517 mg/dl518 mg/dl519 mg/dl520 mg/dl521 mg/dl522 mg/dl523 mg/dl524 mg/dl
525 mg/dl526 mg/dl527 mg/dl528 mg/dl529 mg/dl530 mg/dl531 mg/dl532 mg/dl
533 mg/dl534 mg/dl535 mg/dl536 mg/dl537 mg/dl538 mg/dl539 mg/dl540 mg/dl
541 mg/dl542 mg/dl543 mg/dl544 mg/dl545 mg/dl546 mg/dl547 mg/dl548 mg/dl
549 mg/dl550 mg/dl551 mg/dl552 mg/dl553 mg/dl554 mg/dl555 mg/dl556 mg/dl
557 mg/dl558 mg/dl559 mg/dl560 mg/dl561 mg/dl562 mg/dl563 mg/dl564 mg/dl
565 mg/dl566 mg/dl567 mg/dl568 mg/dl569 mg/dl570 mg/dl571 mg/dl572 mg/dl
573 mg/dl574 mg/dl575 mg/dl576 mg/dl577 mg/dl578 mg/dl579 mg/dl580 mg/dl
581 mg/dl582 mg/dl583 mg/dl584 mg/dl585 mg/dl586 mg/dl587 mg/dl588 mg/dl
589 mg/dl590 mg/dl591 mg/dl592 mg/dl593 mg/dl594 mg/dl595 mg/dl596 mg/dl
597 mg/dl598 mg/dl599 mg/dl600 mg/dl601 mg/dl602 mg/dl603 mg/dl604 mg/dl
605 mg/dl606 mg/dl607 mg/dl608 mg/dl609 mg/dl610 mg/dl611 mg/dl612 mg/dl
613 mg/dl614 mg/dl615 mg/dl616 mg/dl617 mg/dl618 mg/dl619 mg/dl620 mg/dl
621 mg/dl622 mg/dl623 mg/dl624 mg/dl625 mg/dl626 mg/dl627 mg/dl628 mg/dl
629 mg/dl630 mg/dl631 mg/dl632 mg/dl633 mg/dl634 mg/dl635 mg/dl636 mg/dl
637 mg/dl638 mg/dl639 mg/dl640 mg/dl641 mg/dl642 mg/dl643 mg/dl644 mg/dl
645 mg/dl646 mg/dl647 mg/dl648 mg/dl649 mg/dl650 mg/dl651 mg/dl652 mg/dl
653 mg/dl654 mg/dl655 mg/dl656 mg/dl657 mg/dl658 mg/dl659 mg/dl660 mg/dl
661 mg/dl662 mg/dl663 mg/dl664 mg/dl665 mg/dl666 mg/dl667 mg/dl668 mg/dl
669 mg/dl670 mg/dl671 mg/dl672 mg/dl673 mg/dl674 mg/dl675 mg/dl676 mg/dl
677 mg/dl678 mg/dl679 mg/dl680 mg/dl681 mg/dl682 mg/dl683 mg/dl684 mg/dl
Medically reviewed by Javier Muga Bustamante Ph.D. on 24/04/2020

Bibliography

  • Concise Book of Medical Laboratory Technology: Methods and Interpretations. 2nd Edition. 2015. Ramnik Sood. ISBN: 978-93-5152-333-8. Pag. 488.
  • Tietz. Fundamentals of Clinical Chemistry. Carl A. Burtis, Edward R. Ashwood, David E. Bruns, Barbara G. Sawyer. WB Saunders Company, 2008. Pag 402. ISBN: 978-0-7216-3865-2.
  • Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE). Version 5.0.Published: November 27, 2017. U.S. Department of health and human Services. Available on: https://ctep.cancer.gov

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