What are triglycerides? Is it bad if they’re high? 🩸

Triglycerides (TGs) are a type of fat in your blood. Your body uses them for energy.

They’re carried mainly in VLDL (from the liver) and chylomicrons (from the intestine).

Hypertriglyceridemia = fasting TG ≥150 mg/dL (1.7 mmol/L).

Very high levels? ≥500 mg/dL is considered severe.

≥1,000 mg/dL is particularly concerning because of the risk of acute pancreatitis.

🧬 What causes high TGs?

In most people, it’s a combination of genetic susceptibility and other factors:

• Insulin resistance and diabetes

• Alcohol 🍷

• Obesity

• Kidney or liver disease

• Hypothyroidism

• Excess calories, refined carbs & sugars

• Pregnancy

• Certain medications 💊

🧬 Genetics matter

A genetic tendency can make TGs harder to control. Common polygenic susceptibility is much more common than rare conditions such as familial chylomicronemia syndrome.

🔴 Why does it matter?

Very high TGs can cause acute pancreatitis, a potentially serious inflammation of the pancreas.

🫀 What about heart disease?

High TGs are associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and may reflect an excess of atherogenic remnant particles.

So, don’t look at triglycerides in isolation.

Find the cause hiding in plain sight.

#Cardiology #Lipidology #Hypertriglyceridemia #ASCVD #Pancreatitis #PreventiveCardiology