Triglycerides – indications for examination, norms. What do high and low triglycerides mean?

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Triglycerides are organic chemicals – the lipid fraction that reflects dietary fat intake. Triglycerides are an energy material for the entire body, ensuring its proper functioning.

Triglycerides – definition

Triglycerides are fat molecules that play two important roles in the human body. The first is their role in providing energy to the body (they are a biological aggregate of energy), the second is in its storage. Triglycerides accumulate mainly in the cytoplasm of fat cells, e.g. under the skin as adipose tissue.

You can get a referral for a triglyceride test at a visit to your GP. You can visit the National Health Fund without leaving your home via the halodoctor.pl portal.

Indications for testing the concentration of triglycerides

Triglyceride testing is performed in the following cases:

  1. as a component of the lipid profile examination;
  2. at suspicion of damage to the liver parenchyma;
  3. in malabsorption from the gastrointestinal tract;
  4. when pancreatitis is suspected;
  5. while abusing alcohol.

The course of the study of triglycerides

  1. Material for triglyceride testing: serum
  2. Preparation for the test: the patient should be fasting for about 8-10 hours before the test, and the last meal consumed should be low-fat.
  3. The course of triglyceride testing: one-time blood sampling from a vein in the arm.
  4. Waiting time for triglyceride result: 1 day.
  5. Established standard: triglyceride concentrations: up to 150 mg / dl. Values ​​above 200 mg / dL indicate hypertriglyceridemia associated with the risk of developing atherosclerosis.
  6. Notes: The concentration of triglycerides increases in people who consume large amounts of alcohol. High triglycerides play a role in the development of acute pancreatitis.

Norms of triglycerides in individuals

The triglyceride values ​​are as follows:

– fixed standard: up to 150 mg / dl;

women: 35-135 mg / dl (0,40 – 1,54 mmol / l);

men: 40-160 mg / dl (0,45 – 1,82 mmol / l);

– children: less than 100 mg / dL (1 mmol / L);

Elevated triglyceride levels

Elevated triglyceride levels may put you at risk for a heart attack or stroke. The concentration of triglycerides in the body varies throughout the day, so any spikes in its concentration should not be cause for concern. If the triglycerides remain above 1000 mg / dL, there is a risk of pancreatitis.

Research for pancreatic diseases should be extended with a package of tests allowing for a comprehensive analysis of the condition of the pancreas. Take advantage of the uP Patient’s medical platform offer.

So what are the causes of elevated triglycerides? These can be selected diseases, including:

  1. diabetes;
  2. secondary / primary hyperlipidemia;
  3. common hyperlipidemia;
  4. inflammation of the pancreas;
  5. gout;
  6. alcohol abuse,
  7. obesity;
  8. kidney failure;
  9. Hypothyroidism;
  10. Cushing’s syndrome;
  11. lupus erythematosus;
  12. acromegaly;
  13. lipodystrophy;
  14. pregnancy.

In addition, the use of oral contraceptives and diuretics, retinoids, beta blockers or glucocorticosteroids can cause high levels of triglycerides in the body.

Low levels of triglycerides we can most often observe in patients treated in the hospital and with mental illnesses.

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