The calories you don’t use are stored as triglycerides. A high triglyceride level may increase your risk for serious health conditions, such as heart disease and pancreatitis.
Triglycerides are a type of lipid (fat) that come from extra calories your body stores as energy for later use and from foods that you eat. They circulate in the blood, and the body releases them when it needs them.
Having high levels of triglycerides may increase your risk of heart disease. You may have high levels if you regularly consume more calories than your body needs or if you have certain health conditions.
Doctors use a triglyceride level test, also called a triacylglycerol test, to measure the triglyceride levels in your blood.
Keep reading to learn how to understand the results of your triglyceride level test and how to manage your levels.
A doctor typically orders a triglyceride level test as part of a lipoprotein profile every
A lipid profile or lipid panel measures your:
- triglyceride level
- total cholesterol
- “good” high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level
- “bad” low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level
A doctor may check your level more often if you:
- are receiving treatment for high triglyceride levels
- have prediabetes or diabetes
- have a family history of heart disease
- have HIV
Children may also need this test if they have an increased risk of heart disease due to a family history of heart disease or if they have obesity or are overweight. Children with an increased risk of developing heart disease typically need a triglyceride level test between ages 2 and 10.
High blood lipid levels can cause narrowed arteries, known as atherosclerosis, which may increase your risk of heart disease.
High triglyceride levels can also cause inflammation in the pancreas and serious complications.
After checking your levels, a doctor can recommend lifestyle changes or medications to help lower them if necessary.
Read more about the connection between lipid levels and heart disease.
A fasting lipid panel typically requires
The doctor who orders the test may give you additional directions about how much time to fast before the test. They may tell you to avoid alcohol and certain medications for a specific amount of time before the test.
Medications that may affect the test include:
- ascorbic acid
- asparaginase
- beta-blockers
- cholestyramine (Prevalite)
- clofibrate
- colestipol (Colestid)
- estrogens
- fenofibrate (Fenoglide, Tricor)
- fish oil
- gemfibrozil (Lopid)
- nicotinic acid
- birth control pills
- protease inhibitors
- retinoids
- some antipsychotics
- statins
During the test, a healthcare professional generally draws blood from a vein in the front of your elbow or the back of your hand.
They may also use a portable machine to perform this test. The machine collects a very small blood sample from a finger stick and analyzes your triglycerides as part of a lipid panel. You may find this type of test at mobile clinics or health fairs.
You can also buy a portable machine to monitor your triglycerides at home or mail a sample of blood to a laboratory using a prepared kit. You can talk with a doctor to find out if either of these at-home tests is a good option for you.
Fasting levels normally vary from day to day. Triglycerides can vary dramatically when you eat a meal and can be 5 to 10 times higher than at fasting levels.
The following are the basic categories of results for triglyceride levels:
Fasting triglyceride normal range
A normal fasting triglyceride level for adults is
A normal fasting triglyceride level for children and teens ages 10 to 19 is
High fasting triglyceride range
Hypertriglyceridemia is the medical term for elevated triglycerides in the blood.
Doctors typically classify high fasting triglyceride levels into
- Mild or borderline: A borderline high level for adults is 150 to 199 mg/dL.
- High: A high triglyceride level for adults is 200 to 499 mg/dL.
- Very high: A very high triglyceride level for adults is more than 500 mg/dL.
If your fasting triglyceride levels are above 500 mg/dL, you have a high risk of developing pancreatitis. If your levels are this high, you should start immediate treatment to lower your triglycerides.
If your triglyceride levels are high, your total cholesterol may also be high. This condition is known as hyperlipidemia.
You may be more likely to have high triglyceride levels if you:
- smoke cigarettes
- have an inactive or sedentary lifestyle
- have obesity or are overweight
- have alcohol use disorder
- eat a diet low in protein and high in carbohydrates
Other medical conditions that may cause high triglyceride levels include:
- certain types of liver disease, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
- diabetes, especially if it’s not well-managed
- genetic factors
- hyperlipidemia
- hypothyroidism
- nephrotic syndrome or kidney disease
- pancreatitis
- kidney failure
- certain inherited genetic disorders, such as
- familial combined hyperlipidemia
- familial dysbetalipoproteinemia
- familial hypertriglyceridemia
- familial lipoprotein lipase deficiency
Pregnancy can interfere with these test results.
The results of this test can mean different things for children and teens. You should talk with your child’s doctor about the test results to understand what the results mean and the appropriate course of action.
You may be able to lower your triglyceride levels by:
- losing weight, if needed
- reducing the number of calories you eat
- avoiding sugary or refined and ultra-processed foods
- choosing healthier fats, such as fats in plant-based foods or fish
- reducing or avoiding alcohol consumption
- getting 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week, such as by brisk walking, swimming, or biking
Regularly eating a lot of carbohydrates, especially sugar,
Exercise can also lower triglycerides and increase beneficial HDL cholesterol. Even if you don’t lose weight, exercise can help manage your triglyceride level.
If you have a health condition that causes high triglycerides, treatment may focus on treating the underlying cause.
Common medications or supplements that can help lower your triglyceride level include:
High triglyceride and high cholesterol levels often occur together. When this happens, treatment focuses on lowering both levels through medication and lifestyle changes.
It’s important to work with a doctor and dietitian to reduce high triglyceride levels through both medication and lifestyle changes.
A triglyceride level test is part of a lipid panel. Doctors recommend these tests to find out the level of lipids in your blood. High levels may increase your risk of heart disease and other health conditions.
Changes to your diet and exercise routine may help manage your levels, but in many cases, doctors may recommend medications to lower your levels.
Treating high triglyceride levels and high cholesterol levels may reduce your risk of complications and support your overall health.