Triglycerides

A triglyceride is an ester derived from glycerol and three fatty acids. Triglycerides are
the main constituents of body fat in humans and other animals, as well as vegetable fat.
An adult ingests about 60 to 150 g of lipids per day, of which more than ninety percent is
normally triacylglycerol (formerly called triglyceride). The remainder of the dietary lipids
consists primarily of cholesterol, cholesteryl esters, phospholipids, and unesterified ("free")
fatty acids.
Triglyceride Structure
Triglycerides get their name from their structure. The liver builds triglycerides from
the raw elements glucose and fatty acids. The liver builds individual glucose into a chain and
the chain is called glycerol. Then, 3 fatty acids attach to the glycerol base.
Difference between triglyceride and cholesterol
Triglycerides and cholesterol are both lipids (fats). They both circulate in the
bloodstream and are escorted through the blood vessels by lipoproteins. High levels of either
can cause heart and circulatory problems. The differences between the two are how they
perform inside the body.
Normal triglyceride levels
Normal: Less than 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), or less than 1.7 millimoles
per liter (mmol/L)
Borderline high: 150 to 199 mg/dL (1.8 to 2.2 mmol/L)
High: 200 to 499 mg/dL (2.3 to 5.6 mmol/L)
Very high: 500 mg/dL or above (5.7 mmol/L or above)

Mechanism of triglycerides
Lippincott page no. 172
High levels of triglyceride
Hypertriglyceridemia, a condition in which triglyceride levels are elevated, is a
common disorder in the United States. It is often caused or exacerbated by uncontrolled
diabetes mellitus, obesity, and sedentary habits, all of which are more prevalent in
industrialized societies than in developing nations. In epidemiologic and interventional
studies, hypertriglyceridemia is a risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD)."If
triglyceride levels are too high in the blood, they can cause plaque buildup in the arteries,"
Scientists are not sure how or why triglycerides cause plaque buildup, but they do know that
people with high levels of triglycerides are more likely to have high LDL levels. When
plaque builds up in the arteries, artery walls can harden or become thick, which is called
atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and heart disease. According
to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), women are especially at risk of heart disease if
they have high triglyceride levels. Scientists think that high triglyceride levels can also
indicate other conditions that increase the risk of these diseases, such as obesity and
metabolic syndrome.
Extremely high triglyceride levels can lead to acute pancreatitis, according to the
Mayo Clinic. They may also be a sign of type 2 diabetes, hypothyroidism, kidney disease,
and liver disease or rare genetic conditions that deal with metabolism.
The American Heart Association notes that more research is needed to be sure that
high triglyceride levels are an independent risk for heart and other diseases. These diseases
have other risk factors, such as high cholesterol, so the role of triglycerides is still being
determined. Several case studies have shown that triglycerides could be an independent
disease risk factor, however. Furthermore, a 2007 study published in Annals of Internal
Medicine found that young men with the highest triglyceride levels had a four times greater
risk of developing heart disease or having a stroke than similarly aged patients with the
lowest triglyceride levels.
Treatment or cure
A diet that includes monounsaturated fats found in plants, such as olive oil, and fish
high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, can help reduce triglyceride levels.
Low level of triglycerides

Triglyceride levels rise and fall depending on how much fat the body stores. Doctors
are generally more concerned about high levels of triglyceride, described as a blood level of
150 mg/dL or higher, than they are about low triglyceride levels. But low triglycerides may
indicate the presence of disease, registered dietitian Jane Korsberg of Case Western Reserve
University reports.

Direct Symptoms

Like high triglyceride levels, low triglyceride levels in and of themselves cause no
specific symptoms. Low triglyceride levels are diagnosed by having blood drawn after fasting
for 12 hours.
Malnutrition Symptoms

Diseases that deplete fat stores such as malnutrition can cause very low triglyceride
levels. Symptoms of malnutrition might include lethargy, feeling cold, dry, thin, inelastic
skin, brittle, sparse, lifeless hair, muscle wasting, diarrhea and weight loss. A person with
malnutrition may also develop frequent infections since the immune system doesnt function
well enough to fight them off.
Hyperthyroid Symptoms
Hyperthyroidism can cause metabolism to speed up, resulting in weight loss and
possibly also causing low triglyceride levels. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include rapid
heartbeat, weight loss, anxiety, sweating, increased appetite, fatigue, tremor, irritability or
difficulty sleeping. Older adults may not develop all the symptoms of hyperthyroidism,
especially if they take beta blocker medications, which can mask the symptoms.
Malabsorption Symptoms
A number of diseases can cause malabsorption, the inability of the body to absorb
nutrients through the intestine. Diseases such as cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, certain types of
cancer, weight-loss bypass surgery and familial diseases such as hypobetalipoproteinemia can
cause malabsorption of fats and low triglyceride levels. Symptoms vary depending on the
disorder but generally include failure to thrive syndrome in infants, poor growth, weight loss
and muscle wasting. Gastrointestinal manifestations include bloating, gas, diarrhea, bulky,
greasy stools that float and abdominal cramping.