Many people who have Heart Disease or diabetes have high blood triglyceride levels
and other biomarkers associated with high cardiovascular disease risk, including a
high total cholesterol level, a high LDL-C level, a low HDL-C level. A triglyceride
level of 150 mg/dl or higher is one of the risk factors of the metabolic syndrome that
is associated with an increased risk for heart disease and diabetes.

High Triglycerides are mainly a lifestyle-related risk factor, but some people have a
genetic predisposition to high triglycerides. Being overweight or obese, low levels
of physical activity, cigarette smoking, and excess alcohol consumption all contribute
to elevated triglyceride levels. Lowering triglycerides is possible by adherence
to the factors on the Lifestyle Checklist, especially controlling weight, eating a
heart-healthy low saturated fat, plant-based diet, getting regular exercise, avoiding
tobacco, eliminating alcohol or at least limiting it to one drink per day and limiting
beverages and foods with added sugars.

There is good evidence that lowering triglyceride levels reduces the risk of coronary
heart disease events. Still, the link between triglycerides and CVD is variable in part
because triglycerides vary considerably in composition and particle numbers. Not
all genetic variants that lead to high triglycerides are associated with an increased
risk of CVD.

The average 2013-2016 level of triglycerides for American adults age 20 and older
is 95.6 mg/dl, and 22 % of adults have high triglycerides of 150 mg/dl or higher.75

The 2013 recommendations of the American Heart Association about triglyceride
levels are:

Less than 100 mg/dl––optimal

Less than 150 mg/dl__normal

150-199 mg/dl––borderline high

200-499 mg/dl––high

500mg/dl and above––very high:

This blog presents opinions and ideas and is intended to provide helpful general information. I am not engaged in rendering advice or services to the individual reader. The ideas, procedures and suggestions in that are presented are not in any way a substitute for the advice and care of the reader’s own physician or other medical professional based on the reader’s own individual conditions, symptoms or concerns. If the reader needs personal medical, health, dietary, exercise or other assistance or advice the reader should consult a physician and/or other qualified health professionals. The author specifically disclaims all responsibility for any injury, damage or loss that the reader may incur as a direct or indirect consequence of following any directions or suggestions given in this blog or participating in any programs described in this blog or in the book, The Building Blocks of Health––How to Optimize Your Health with a Lifestyle Checklist (available in print or downloaded at Amazon, Apple, Barnes and Noble and elsewhere). Copyright 2021 by J. Joseph Speidel