Triglycerides are lipids present in food (of animal and vegetable origin) and in the human body.
Some triglycerides are of endogenous origin and are produced by the liver. This mainly happens when the diet is too rich in carbohydrates and ethyl alcohol, or in the presence of chronic hyperglycemia; the excess protein also contributes.
In the blood, the triglycerides absorbed in the intestine are transported to the peripheries by lipoproteins called chylomicrons.
Chronic excess blood triglycerides (elevated VLDLs) is a dyslipidemia / hyperlipemia that correlates with:
- Obesity and other metabolic disorders, including metabolic syndrome.
- Fat liver.
- Atherosclerosis.
- Cardio and cerebro vascular events.
- Complications of the pancreas.
NB. The disproportionate increase in blood triglycerides after a meal is normal; it becomes pathological only when it occurs in the fasting state.
The material published is intended to allow quick access to general advice, suggestions and remedies that doctors and textbooks usually dispense for the treatment of High Triglycerides; such indications must in no way substitute the opinion of the attending physician or other health specialists in the sector who are treating the patient.
What to do
Hypertriglyceridemia is asymptomatic. The only clinical sign concerns very serious conditions (genetic pathologies) and is manifested by the “whitening” of the blood (the triglycerides are very pale in color).
This means that the entire population should seek medical attention for:
- Visit and assessment of risk factors:
- Familiarity.
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
- Alcoholism.
- Hypothyroidism.
- Nephrotic syndrome and renal failure.
- Beta-blocker drugs.
- Birth control pill.
- Diuretics (e.g. furosemide).
- Steroid drugs.
- Blood analysis.
In the event of a positive diagnosis, it is essential:
- If identified, eliminate or reduce any triggering causes (eg hyperglycemia).
- Consult a dietician for dietary therapy against high triglycerides.
- On prescription, initiate drug therapy.
- If useful or necessary, take supplements or other natural remedies for high triglycerides.
- Practicing constant motor activity.
- If you are overweight, lose weight.
- Reduce other cardiovascular risk factors:
- Obesity.
- Hypertension.
- Hypercholesterolemia.
- Hyperglycemia.
- Oxidative stress.
What NOT to do
- Ignore medical prescriptions.
- Skip routine checks for high triglycerides or any related parameters (blood glucose).
- Perform the analyzes without respecting the fast.
- Follow an unbalanced diet or recommended by sources of dubious professionalism.
- Abusing alcohol.
- Adopt a sedentary lifestyle.
- Get fat or become overweight.
- Maintain or increase cardiovascular risk factors.
- Taking medications that can cause or worsen hypertriglyceridaemia.
- Ignore the conditions that can cause or worsen high triglycerides.
What to eat
- Low calorie diet for weight loss in case of overweight.
- Small portions of carbohydrate-heavy foods:
- Cereals and derivatives (pasta, bread, etc.).
- Potatoes.
- Hulled legumes.
- Very sweet fruit.
- Among the foods rich in carbohydrates, prefer those with a low glycemic index:
- Wholemeal or enriched with fiber (for example those added in inulin).
- Whole legumes.
- Slightly or moderately sweet fruit.
- Reduce the glycemic load of meals:
- By increasing the number (about 5–7 in all).
- By reducing your total calorie intake.
- By decreasing the portions, especially in reference to foods rich in carbohydrates.
- Divide carbohydrates into all meals (with the only exception of dinner or an evening snack).
- Reduce the glycemic index of meals:
- By increasing the amount of low-calorie vegetables rich in fiber: radicchio, lettuce, zucchini, fennel, etc.
- Enriching all dishes with low fat and protein (they slow down the digestion and the absorption of sugars and avoid the glycemic surge):
- Extra virgin olive oil.
- Chicken breast, cod fillet, egg, lean ricotta, light cottage cheese, etc.
- If it is impossible to eliminate the attitude to alcohol, prefer red wine (maximum 1-2 small glasses per day).
- Eat foods rich in omega 3:
- Eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid (EPA and DHA): they are very active from a biological point of view. They are found in fishery products and algae. They exert a protective role against metabolic pathologies. They significantly reduce the imbalances created by high blood sugar and decrease triglycerides. Foods rich in these nutrients are: sardine, mackerel, bonito, sardinella, herring, alletterato, tuna belly, garfish, seaweed, krill etc.
- Alpha linolenic acid (ALA): it is less active. Being the precursor of the EPA, it performs the same function. It is mainly found in the fat fraction of certain foods of vegetable origin or in the oils of: soy, linseed, kiwi seed, grape seed, etc.
- Consume foods rich in vitamin antioxidants; protect from oxidative stress of free radicals (strongly correlated to all metabolic decompensations and related complications):
- Vitamin and provitamins A (carotenoids): vegetables and red or orange fruits (apricots, peppers, melon, peaches, carrots, squash, tomatoes, etc.); they are also found in crustaceans, milk, yolk and cheeses.
- Vitamin C: sour fruit and some vegetables (lemons, oranges, mandarins, grapefruits, kiwis, peppers, parsley, chicory, lettuce, etc.).
- Vitamin E: fatty part of seeds and related oils (wheat germ, corn germ, sesame, etc.); small quantities are also found in vegetables and fatty fruits (eg avocados).
- Prefer foods rich in polyphenols (simple phenols, flavonoids, tannins). These antioxidants decrease oxidative stress and improve metabolism; they reduce the speed of absorption of carbohydrates. They are rich in: vegetables (onion, garlic, citrus fruits, cherries, etc.), fruit and relative seeds (pomegranate, grapes, berries, etc.), wine, oil seeds, coffee, tea, cocoa , legumes and whole grains etc.
- Follow a small fast every day by taking advantage of the night's rest. Certain studies suggest that fasting significantly improves blood glucose and triglyceridemia parameters. Without compromising the overall distribution and balance of the diet, it is possible to allow about 10-12 hours to pass between the last meal of the evening and the first of the following day.
What NOT to Eat
- Few meals and very abundant.
- High-calorie foods, especially rich in refined sugar.
- Meals characterized by large glycemic loads, i.e. too rich in: pasta, bread, pizza, baked goods, polenta, rice, potatoes, very sweet fruit, jam, sweets, etc.
- Foods with a high glycemic index: boiled rice, boiled potatoes, fruit juice, some very sweet fruits (ripe bananas, etc.), sweets, etc.
- Low-fiber carbohydrate foods: white bread, white pasta, polenta, etc.
- Alcohol in excess of 1-3 units per day.
- Foods low in "good fats".
- Foods rich in "bad lipids":
- Saturated fatty acids: contained mainly in fatty cheeses, fast foods (wurstel, hamburgers, etc.), in fatty cuts of meat, in bifractionated oils, etc.
- Hydrogenated fatty acids (especially in trans conformation): they are contained in foods fried with tropical oils, in margarines, in packaged junk foods (sweet and savory snacks) etc.
- Foods poor or depleted of vitamin and polyphenolic antioxidants:
- Only vegetables and cooked fruit.
- Only preserved vegetables or fruit (canned, dried, salted, pickled, in oil, etc.).
Natural Cures and Remedies
Among the natural remedies to lower high triglycerides we recognize:
- Sport or physical motor activity: it prevents hypertriglyceridemia and promotes its cure. It also reduces the atherosclerotic and cardiovascular risk. Aerobic activities are considered more effective.
- Soluble fiber supplements: they modulate the intestinal absorption of all nutrients; they also decrease the glycemic peak in the blood by preventing the insulin surge that favors the increase of triglycerides. Some examples of products rich in soluble fiber are: psyllium seeds, glucomannan , chitosan, guar gum and other gums, garcinia cambogia etc.
- Chitosan supplements: it is an unavailable carbohydrate obtained from the chitin contained in the shellfish carapace. able to hinder intestinal absorption of fats.
- Supplements based on oils obtained from fishery products:
- Cod liver oil: rich in essential omega 3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA), vitamin D and vitamin A.
- Krill oil: krill is a part of the so-called plankton; in addition to omega 3 essential fatty acids (EPA and DHA) it is also rich in vitamin A.
- Algae oil: rich in omega 3 essential fatty acids (EPA and DHA).
- Supplements based on oils obtained from the germ of cereals: the most common is that of wheat. It is rich in essential polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E.
- Vitamin antioxidant supplements.
- Polyphenolic antioxidant supplements.
- Phytosterol supplements.
Pharmacological treatment
- Fibrates: mainly used when triglycerides exceed the value of 885mg / dl. They also fight bad cholesterol.
- Fenofibrate (e.g. Lipsin, Fulcro, Fenolibs, Lipofene).
- Gemfibrozil (for example LOPID, Genlip, Gemfibrozil DOC).
- Statins: they are most used in cholesterol-lowering therapy but are also effective in the treatment of mild hypertriglyceridemia.
- Atorvastatin (e.g. Totalip, Torvast, Xarator).
- Simvastatin (for example Zocor, Simvastat, Omistat, Quibus, Setorilin).
- Pravastatin (e.g. Selectin, Langiprav, Sanaprav).
- Derivatives of nicotinic acid: inhibit the synthesis of triglycerides and cholesterol, thus lowering the serum levels.
- Acipomix (eg. Olbetam)
- Omega 3 fatty acids (e.g. Esapent, Seacor, Eskim).
- Bile acid sequestrants: indicated only in case of resistance to statins in the context of hypertriglyceridemia. They must be associated with fibrates or statins.
- Colestipol (eg Colestid).
- Cholestyramine (for example Questran).
- Coleselvam (e.g. Cholestagel).
Prevention
- Motor activity: the best solution is to practice sports every day. Large volumes of work are not required; on the contrary, the segmentation of the session in two times (after the main meals) is more effective.
- Specific diet and supplements.
- Pharmacological therapy.
- Treating obesity and other related physical complications.
- Eliminate the risk factors on which it is possible to intervene (birth control pills, diuretics, etc.).
Medical Treatments
No other medical treatments are known to help reduce high blood triglycerides.
