Triglycerides

Normal Triglyceride Levels

Triglycerides are other fatty substances often measured at the same time as cholesterol, in order to evaluate cardiac risk. They are also carried in the bloodstream via the lipoprotein, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL). Triglycerides can vary from 50 to over 500 mg/dL. An American Heart Association (AHA) study in 1996 found that men and women with triglyceride levels at or above 100 mg per deciliter of blood were 50 percent more likely to have heart conditions than those with lower triglyceride levels. Triglycerides tend to increase with weight gain and decrease with activity.

Serum Triglyceride Level mg/dl
Less than 150 mg/dL	Normal
150 to 199 mg/dL	Borderline
200 to 499 mg/dL	High
500 mg/dL or more	Very High

Increased levels of cholesterol may be seen in:

Atherosclerotic vascular disease	Familial hyperlipidemias
Uncontrolled diabetes	Myocardial infarction
High cholesterol diet	Nephrotic syndrome
Primary biliary cirrhosis	Hypothyroidism

Drugs that may increase blood cholesterol levels include:

ACTH	Anabolic steroids
Beta-blockers	Thiazide diuretics
Corticosteroids	Epinephrine
Phenytoin	Birth control pills
Sulfa drugs	Vitamin D

Abnormally low cholesterol levels may indicate:

Liver impairment	Malnutrition
Hyperthyroidism	Pernicious anemia
Malabsorption	Sepsis

Drugs that may decrease blood cholesterol measurements include:

Allopurinol	Captopril
Chlorpropamide	Colchicine
Colestipol	Chlorpropamide
Clofibrate	Niacin
Erythromycin	Isoniazid
Lovastatin	Mao Inhibitors
Neomycin	Nitrates
Pravastatin Sodium	Probucol
Simvastatin	Gemfibrozil
Fluvastatin	Cholestyramine

Elevated triglycerides may be seen in the following:

Familial hyperlipoproteinemia	Poorly controlled diabetes
Cirrhosis	Nephrotic syndrome
Hypothyroidism	Pancreatitis
Low protein / High carbohydrate diet

Drugs that may increase blood triglycerides include:

Cholestyramine	Birth control pills
Estrogen

Low triglyceride levels may be seen in the following:

Malabsorption	Hyperthyroidism
Malnutrition	Low fat diet

Drugs that may decrease blood triglyceride levels include:

Ascorbic acid	Clofibrate
Asparaginase	Colestipol

Fat in the Healthy Cardiac Diet

Human Growth Hormone Shown to Lower Cholesterol!!!

Normal Cholesterol Levels