Triglycerides are a type of fat that circulates in your blood. Triglycerides are produced when you consume more calories than your body needs and are then stored in fat cells as a source of energy. Having excessive triglycerides in your blood is dangerous and can lead to hardening of your arteries, heart disease and stroke. 

Compared with the importance placed on cholesterol levels for health, triglycerides are sometimes overlooked as an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. High triglyceride levels may contribute to hardening of the arteries or thickening of the artery walls and increase the risk of stroke, heart attack and heart disease. In addition, high triglyceride levels can be a sign of type 2 diabetes.

What does it mean to have high triglycerides?
Triglyceride levels are defined based on a fasting blood test (a blood sample taken when you have not eaten for more than 8 hours) using the following values:

Around one fifth of adults in Hong Kong have high blood triglyceride levels, greater than or equal to 200 mg/dL. Having a high blood triglyceride level becomes more likely with older age and is more common in men than women.

The most common causes of high triglyceride levels are either underlying genetic disorders or lifestyle factors such as obesity, uncontrolled diabetes and excessive alcohol consumption.

How is a high triglyceride level treated?
For people with high triglyceride levels without a genetic cause, the cornerstone of treatment is lifestyle modification. This includes increasing exercise frequency, managing obesity through weight loss, reduction of carbohydrate intake and decreasing alcohol intake. Exercise is particularly effective and can decrease triglycerides by up to 20% in people with triglyceride levels greater than or equal to 150 mg/dL.

Dietary modifications that can help lower blood triglyceride levels include reducing refined carbohydrate intake and increasing fibre intake. Dietary recommendations include fresh fruits and vegetables; whole grains; fish containing omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, trout, and halibut; and plants and plant-based foods containing omega-3 fatty acids, such as flaxseed, walnuts, soybeans, and canola oil. 

You should always talk to your doctor before beginning an exercise programme or radically changing your diet.

References
Unniachan S, et al. Int J Clin Pract. 2014 Aug;68(8):1010-9.
Scordo K, et al. Am J Nurs. 2017 Jan;117(1):24-31.
Miller M, et al. Circulation 2011;123(20):2292-333.