Values ​​of triglycerides

The values ​​of triglycerides in the blood are measured in an attempt to quantify the patient's cardiovascular risk, often in conjunction with other "thermometers" of this risk, such as the LDL and HDL cholesterol values, and the levels of homocysteine, fibrinogen and various inflammatory markers .

Too high values ​​of triglycerides, in fact, predispose to atherosclerosis, a disease characterized by the storage of fats (mainly cholesterol), minerals (mainly calcium), fibrous connective tissue and cells or cellular debris (mainly macrophages) inside the large arteries caliber. In the vessels affected by atherosclerotic processes, important obstacles to the free flow of blood are thus formed, with possible suffering of the downstream tissues due to the reduced blood flow. These plaques can also break and the fragments detached from them migrate into the blood until completely occluding a smaller vessel; finally, the artery wall itself - made more rigid and less elastic by the disease - can be injured and even ruptured. It is therefore not surprising that cardiovascular diseases represent the main cause of death in industrialized countries.

High levels of triglycerides in the blood also predispose to pancreatitis, an "inflammation of the pancreas characterized by the appearance of a violent and sudden pain in the upper part of the abdomen, with a tendency to radiate towards the back, often followed by nausea and vomiting of food and biliary (green - dark color). The relationship between pancreatitis and hypertriglyceridemia is however valid only for particularly high triglyceride values, in the order of 1500 or more mg / dl.

Values ​​of triglycerides: reference levels

Values ​​of Triglycerides mg / dL mmol / L Interpretation

< 150

<1.7

Desirable values, low risk

150-199 1.7-2.2 Triglycerides close to the limit values ​​that delineate the excess 200-499 2.3-5.6 High triglycerides >500 >5.6 Very high triglycerides

NOTES: the triglyceride values ​​reported above refer to the measurement carried out in conditions of absolute fasting for 8 - 12 hours (only water is allowed). Triglyceridemia - that is the concentration of triglycerides in the blood - tends to remain temporarily high after For this reason, when following a diet that is particularly rich in calories and fat (hypercaloric and hyperlipidic) in the days preceding the examination, the triglyceride values ​​can appear quite high.

When the triglyceride values ​​are high it is very important:

• correct overweight and obesity.
• Reduce, better avoid, alcohol.
• Reduce the consumption of simple sugars (sweets, dehydrated fruit and sugary fruits, such as figs, bananas, grapes, mandarins and persimmons).
• Limit your calorie intake, avoiding binges.
• Consume fish at least 2-3 times a week; on as many occasions replace meat with legumes, and traditional seed oils with omega-three sources, such as hemp, linseed, canola or walnut oil.
• Limit the consumption of foods rich in saturated fats (mainly contained in dairy products and fatty meat), replacing them with those rich in monounsaturated fatty acids and in particular in oleic acid (olive oil, dried fruit and vegetable oils in general).
• Reduce, better avoid, hydrogenated fats (contained in margarine and in many pastries, snacks and packaged baked goods).
• Keep the consumption of antioxidant-rich foods high.

If despite the adoption of these behavioral rules, blood tests continue to indicate too high triglyceride values, the doctor can intervene by prescribing specific medicines, such as fibrates, or a supplement of essential fatty acids or carnitine.

When triglyceride values ​​are low:

there is generally nothing to worry about. Pathological conditions characterized by hypotiglyceridemia (malnutrition, hyperthyroidism, liver disease, malabsorption) in fact produce characteristic symptoms, so a person in perfect health should not worry excessively about lower than normal triglyceride values.