Triglycerides are elevated, what does this mean? Triglycerides

As the main source of cellular energy in the body there are triglycerides (TG, Triglyceride or trig), which, in addition, are the main component in the structure of the cell membrane (mobile membrane). Without them, the body cannot function normally, but an excess becomes a threat to health.

Triglycerides are neutral fats that, together with cholesterol, are part of lipoproteins of varying densities that transport substances through blood vessels. In other words, fat in the blood (lipids) consists of triglycerides and cholesterol.

Structurally, they are a glycerol ester with three molecules of two or three fatty acids with an even number of carbon atoms, such as: stearic, myristic, linolenic, palmitic, linoleic, oleic. If triglycerides consist of molecules of one acid, then they are called simple. TGs made from two or three acids are mixed.

Triglyceride formula

In the body, triglycerides are formed from carbohydrates in the liver, adipose tissue, and intestines. In the digestive organ, they are decomposed into glyceride and fatty acids, which is facilitated by lipase - a biological catalyst, in this case dissolving, separating and digesting fat components. The decomposition reaction is necessary for neutral fats to penetrate the body's cells, which helps replenish energy reserves.

Next, in the mucous membrane, triglycerides are formed again and, as part of chylomicrons (a type of lipoprotein), enter the liver, where vital TG processes occur. Introduction to triglyceride lipoprotein structure obliged apolipoproteins–proteins components that perform a connecting function with them. Circulating through the blood vessels as part of lipoproteins, neutral fats provide energy to the body's cells.

The formation of TG also occurs with the help of food coming from outside, creating reserves in adipose tissue. Triglycerides existing in the body are responsible for the availability of its energy resources.

What can affect TG levels?

Elevated triglyceride levels can usually be caused by the following factors:

• excessively overweight;
• passive lifestyle due to overeating;
• advanced diabetes;
• cardiovascular diseases (atherosclerosis, cerebral thrombosis, ischemia of the heart muscle, stroke, heart attack, persistent increase in blood pressure - hypertension);
• gout is a metabolic disorder with the deposition of uric acid salts in the joints;
• some types of glycogenosis - a hereditary disease in which there is insufficient or excessive levels of glycogen (a complex carbohydrate synthesized in the liver and muscle tissue);
• thalassemia major - a blood disease;
• neurotic anorexia, in which there is a rejection of food by the body (with a vomiting symptom) as a result of mental trauma;
• insufficiency of the thyroid gland;
• kidney pathology;
• respiratory distress syndrome (severe pneumonia);
• regular use;
• permanent stressful state body;
• the use of certain drugs: tamoxifen (an anticancer drug), steroids (to build muscle mass in athletes), beta blockers (for hypertension), diuretics (diuretic drugs), estrogens (hormonal drugs), birth control pills;
• heredity.

The amount of TG can also increase in the female body during the period, which is associated with providing energy to the woman and the fetus. A constant TG level or a decrease in it indicates possible problems in the health of the expectant mother. The following is a table of normative values ​​for certain periods of pregnancy.

Triglyceride concentration

Elevated TG in an adult are mainly a signal to action: identifying risks and development cardiovascular pathologies, concomitant diseases.

The TG level is considered taking into account the ratio of harmful and good cholesterol. If triglycerides elevated and cholesterol is normal, then additional research should be carried out to determine the true cause. It may consist of a strict diet, liver and spleen diseases, diabetes, problems with the adrenal glands, or the thyroid gland. When there is a problem on the contrary (that is, cholesterol is high, but TG is normal), then cardiac or vascular diseases are obvious.

When triglycerides and cholesterol are elevated, this situation significantly increases the risk of heart and vascular disease. Low triglycerides with high cholesterol indicate a lack of energy, weakness due to vascular diseases.

In men, the level of these indicators is slightly higher than in women. This may occur as a result of smoking and nervous stress, alcohol consumption and excessive animal origin.

The risk of increased TG concentrations in the blood is always greater in women than in men. Application contraceptive drugs, bearing a child; cystic growths on and inside the ovaries, which leads to infertility; menopause, hormonal disorders, infertility - all this contributes to an increase in the level of these indicators in the female body.

If diseases are not a concern, then lifestyle changes will help patients reduce TG: proper nutrition, physical activity, positive emotions, refusal bad habits. For existing pathologies, treatment is prescribed, aimed, among other things, at reducing triglyceride levels.

The accumulation of excess triglycerides in a child may indicate obesity or excess weight, or an insufficiently varied diet; use harmful products that children love so much (confectionery, fast food, chips); hereditary pathology.

Acceptable level TG in children is established from birth. So, in the first month of life normal amount triglycerides for infants, regardless of gender, are in the range of 0.20–0.87 mmol/l. Up to one year of age, TG in babies should normally be 0.38–0.94 mmol/l. Upon reaching the age of one and up to 15 years, the normal level is different for boys and girls, as can be seen from the table.

This indicator in children is increased as a result of excess weight (as already noted), heredity, and thyroid disease. In these cases, they are taken monthly, following the pediatrician’s recommendations. Reduced TG in a child is caused by the same reasons as in adults, but is very rare.

Reduced triglyceride levels in adult patients occur when:

• low lipoprotein levels,
• overactive activity of the thyroid and parathyroid glands,
• poor nutrition (including during long-term strict diets),
• disruption of the intestines (including intestinal lymphangiectasia - swelling of the walls of the small intestine);
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (in which the respiratory organs respond inflammatory reaction to prevent toxic particles and gases from entering them),
• consumption of vitamin C, heparin;
• injuries, some types of burns.

Analysis and what the data obtained mean

Adult patients over 20 years of age should be examined for triglyceride levels in the blood every 4-5 years, children - once up to 10 years of age to determine congenital pathologies.

If the patient is at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, then the doctor prescribes a blood test to monitor TG.

People suffering from diabetes are required to take this analysis blood, since triglycerides and glucose depend on each other. is also a reason to monitor triglycerides.

The basic unit of measurement of TG adopted in laboratories is mmol/l. The test may use mg/dL, which must be multiplied by a factor of 0.0113 to obtain the triglyceride level in mmol/L.

The intake of food into the body increases the level of the indicator by 5-10 times, therefore, to obtain an objective picture, blood is donated for triglycerides on an empty stomach.

When preparing to donate blood, it is recommended not to drink alcohol for three days, not eat food for the last 12 hours, and not smoke for at least half an hour. If possible, you should stop taking medications that affect TG levels (listed above).

30 minutes before the test, you need to provide the body with physical and emotional rest. More detailed information analysis results are obtained through additional examinations that identify the causes of pathological indicators. If the patient experiences weakness or malaise, blood donation will have to be postponed for a while. Patients who have had a heart attack, severe illness, surgery You should wait a month and a half for tests.

Recommendations are given to obtain an accurate TG level. If the patient violates the rules for preparing the test, the results of the data obtained may raise doubts, and the doctor will prescribe a retake. If the indicator has a difference of up to 40% within a month, then this is not considered a deviation.

What do the analysis results indicate?

Triglycerides in biochemical analysis below 1.7 mmol/l show a slight risk of developing heart and vascular diseases. If the indicator is in the range of 1.7-2.2 mmol/l, then this is an acceptable level of increase in TG, at which preventive measures are appropriate.

When the values ​​fall within the range of 2.3-5.6 mmol/l, then there is a high level of TG in the blood, which requires diagnosis and immediate treatment. A result exceeding 5.6 mmol/l is an advanced case when the body develops heart disease and pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) cannot be ruled out.

It should be noted that TG values ​​based on the analysis results are examined taking into account not only age, gender, but also height.

How TG levels change with age

Exists different norm indicators for female and male representatives, as well as for each age category, which can be seen in the table:

Over the years, the level of triglycerides in the blood of men gradually increases, which is facilitated by smoking, abundant fatty foods, and accumulating stress. Age-related changes in a woman’s body also lead to an increase in TG, with the exception of puberty (from 15 to 25 years), when hormones prevent the accumulation of excess fat. When following a strict diet, female representatives have noticeably reduced triglycerides. TG levels in women after 65 years of age can increase noticeably, since protective function hormones practically cease to act.

If we compare the amount of triglycerides in men and women of the same age, the standard for women is slightly lower due to the reproductive characteristics of the body.

Lipidogram form

A biochemical blood test that provides numerical information about the state of lipid metabolism and the risks of cardiovascular diseases is called a lipid profile. The form for this analysis contains the following indicators (substance levels are indicated in mmol/l):

• total cholesterol (the norm is 3.2-5.6);
• triglycerides (acceptable value 0.41-1.8);
• low-density lipoproteins LDL (normative data for men 2.25-4.82; for women 1.92-4.51);
• lipoproteins high density HDL (normal in men 0.7-1.73; in women 0.86-2.28);
• very low density lipoproteins VLDL should be in the range of 0.26-1.04;
• (ratio of bad and good cholesterol in the blood) – a value of 2.2-3.5 is considered acceptable.

Decoding biochemical values in the blood, including TG, shows the correspondence of the actual results of the patient’s analysis to certain disease risks.

With cholesterol levels in the range of 5.2-6.2 mmol/l in the body, there is a moderate risk of atherosclerosis, which can be significantly reduced drug therapy, adequate physical activity, healthy nutrition. If cholesterol reaches a level above 6.2, then the risks are high. To remove the patient from this risk group, complex, selected treatment is used.

A TG level from 1.7 to 2.2 mmol/l is considered average, in the range of 2.35-5.65 - high, over 5.65 - very high. If the value is elevated, the doctor will order you to retake the test in 2-4 weeks. Only after this will final conclusions be drawn. On the lipid profile form, triglycerides are designated TG or trig.

(bad cholesterol) in the range of 3.37-4.12 are a moderate risk for women and men. When this indicator is between 4.12 and 4.9, the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases becomes high, and more than 4.9 is too high.

Beneficial cholesterol (HDL) is not deposited on the walls of blood vessels, but prevents this and participates in the main synthesis of cells, tissues, organs, and systems. The HDL level in the range of 1.-1.3 shows average degree risk for male body; respectively 1.2-1.5 – for women. High risk is a value below 1.1 in men and below 1.2 in women.

As for the atherogenicity coefficient, the average and high risks are 2.5-4 and 4-7, respectively. When the coefficient exceeds the number 7, the analysis result is poor, and the risk of serious vascular and heart pathology increases significantly. In this case, the patient experiences dyslipidemia - a disorder of lipid or apoprotein metabolism.

How and with what to normalize triglyceride levels

To bring a significantly increased level of TG in the blood back to normal, it is necessary not only to treat with drugs, but also to comply with certain rules on food choice, introduction of physical activity, weight control.

Low triglycerides can be increased by adjusting the diet, which should be balanced and sufficiently nutritious. As noted, a low level of TG is also due to the use of drugs (vitamin C, heparin), which are canceled for a while or the dose is reduced. If detected concomitant disease against the background of decreased TG, then a course of treatment for the pathology is prescribed.

Drug treatment

Medicines that help reduce the level of TG in the blood include: fibrates, nicotinic acid, omega-3 fatty acids, statins.

Fibrates are natural compounds belonging to the group of carboxylic acids and suppress the formation of fats. Due to this, the level of good cholesterol in the blood increases and the TG value decreases. The drugs are not suitable for everyone: they can cause abnormalities in the liver, stomach upset, and the formation of gallstones. Combined use with statins is fraught with damage to muscle tissue.

The group of carboxylic acids also includes nicotinic acid, the use of which causes active synthesis correct cholesterol. The doctor takes into account the possibility of prescribing nicotinic acid to the patient, since it can sometimes have a side effect: difficulty breathing, abdominal pain, jaundice, dizziness. This usually occurs when taking an overdose of the drug. Therefore, you must strictly follow the doctor's recommendations.

Omega-3 fatty acids based on fish oil reduce TG levels, especially at higher doses. However, it is better to gradually come to desired results than it is dangerous to receive large liquefaction blood, increased blood sugar, liver disease, weakness, unstable psyche, poor appearance (excessively greasy skin with pimples, oily hair). The listed symptoms occur if you take omega-3 in large doses.

Statins help slow down the synthesis of cholesterol with a harmful structure. When it comes to lowering triglycerides, statins are less effective than higher named drugs.

Folk remedies

As an alternative medicine to reduce triglycerides in the blood, beans are used, which are boiled after soaking for 5 hours. The course is designed for 30 days, the daily portion of beans is 200 g in dry form, taken in small portions.

A decoction of ginger (250 g), to which is added a ground mixture consisting of several cloves of garlic, enjoys a good reputation; cinnamon, horseradish and cardamom, a pinch each; a piece of lemon, 3 pieces of cloves. After adding the mixture, the broth is stirred, water is added (1:1) and brought to a boil. The healing mixture is stored in a cool, dark place. At one time you need to consume 10 g of the product with 1 teaspoon of honey before meals.

Ground flaxseed, which is added to food, gives excellent results. It is also useful to take linden blossom powder 1 teaspoon 3 times a day.

Nutrition rules

To normalize triglyceride levels, it is necessary to adjust your diet by eliminating unwanted products and supplementing your diet with healthy foods. Sugar sharply increases TG, so there should be as little as possible on the menu. Products made from white flour containing semolina should also be limited. Instead of sweets and sugar, you can eat dried fruits, and it is advisable to replace pasta and potatoes with cereals.

If you regularly eat dishes from fatty varieties (cod, pink salmon, salmon, salmon, tuna, trout, mackerel, sprat, pollock, flounder, halibut) twice a week, then TG will noticeably decrease. Foods rich in plant protein (beans, peas , soy) also improve the body's condition by regulating triglycerides in the blood. In addition, walnuts and leafy vegetables should be included in the diet.

It is better to exclude red, replacing it with white chicken and turkey. The food should contain fiber (the same beans and peas, soybeans, bran, wholemeal products), which removes excess fatty substances from the body and helps reduce TG levels. Products with fiber, entering the stomach, quickly saturate it. To avoid intestinal disorders, you need to drink more water after eating fiber.

The amount of TG is negatively affected by alcohol consumption, so during the treatment period you need to give up the addiction. Prepackaged finished products in supermarkets, fast foods in the McDonald's fast food chain harm the content of the blood, increasing the amount of TG in it. Instead of harmful fats, it is necessary to consume healthy ones, which are part of vegetable oils (especially olive, flaxseed, rapeseed). Preference should be given to citrus fruits and apricots, as they contain a minimal amount of fructose (natural sugar).

By eating small portions of food more than three times a day, without eating too much immediately before bed, a person thereby regulates his weight and triglyceride levels. If the weight problem is serious, then it is necessary to control, under the supervision of a doctor, the amount of calories entering the body from food

Particularly important is feasible exercise when a person leads a passive lifestyle and burns significantly less calories than they enter the body with food. Training with gradually increasing loads brings pleasure to both the person and his body. Therefore, after some time, sport will organically enter life as a mandatory (and most importantly – voluntary) component.

Walking, skiing and cycling, dancing, swimming, Pilates, aerobics, exercise equipment - all these activities will not be in vain and will have a beneficial effect on the state of mind and body, relieving several extra pounds for health and beauty.

An important choice when normalizing TG is to quit smoking. Hard work on yourself will give the body additional health. For help, you can contact your therapist or psychologist who has successful experience in the anti-nicotine recovery program.

In addition, a more philosophical attitude towards life will relieve unnecessary stress and bad mood. Books, music, communication with like-minded people will give an additional charge of kindness, positivity and optimism. In this case, it is necessary to monitor the level of triglycerides in a blood test, adjusting lifestyle and treatment in accordance with medical recommendations.

In fact, triglycerides (TG) are considered the main fat store of energy for human body, because they are the ones that are deposited and accumulated in every cell of adipose tissue. Triglycerides enter the body with food and are formed in the liver from carbohydrates. They circulate in the blood only as atherogenic lipoproteins and in large quantities often lead to the development of atherosclerosis. That is why it is very important to know what a person’s triglyceride levels are in order to prevent the onset of the disease at the slightest increase.

An increase in triglycerides in the blood threatens the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in blood vessels

Normal TG levels in the blood

First of all, the content of these substances in the blood is affected by a person’s gender and age. Namely:

• in women, the normal concentration of TG in the blood varies from 0.40 to 2.70 mmol/l;
• in the male half the norm is higher: in young people – 0.5-3.6 mmol/l, in older people – 0.61-2.8 mmol/l;
• triglyceride levels in children should not exceed 0.33-1.5 mmol/l.

Important: these indicators are approximate, since each laboratory indicates its own reference values ​​in the analysis data, and the doctor looks at them when assessing the results.

Despite this, all adult patients prefer the optimal value, which is 1.9 mmol/l.

Reasons for deviation from the norm

Increased TG levels in the blood

To accurately determine the content of these substances in the blood, a biochemical blood test is prescribed. Triglycerides can increase as a result of the development of such diseases as:

• obesity;
• diabetes;
• atherosclerosis and other diseases of the heart and blood vessels;
• primary hyperlipidemia (has a hereditary predisposition);
• liver diseases caused by alcoholism;
• pathologies in the kidneys;
• hypothyroidism – decreased secretion of thyroid hormones;
• gout;
• lycogenosis is a hereditary genetic disease in which glycogen synthesis is disrupted;
• anorexia nervosa.

In addition, an increase in triglycerides is observed in pregnant women and women who long time take birth control pills, as well as those prescribed diuretics, beta blockers and interferons.

Advice: the day before the test, you should refrain from eating large amounts of food, drinking alcohol and smoking, as this can sharply increase the concentration of TG in the blood.

Decrease in TG concentration

A strong decrease in these substances in the blood is also an indicator of the presence of health problems and one or another pathology. Among them are:

• hyperfunction of the thyroid gland;
• disruption of the parathyroid glands;
• chronic pathologies in the lungs;
• illness;
• violation of intestinal absorption function;
• infrequent eating or poor nutrition.

The level of triglycerides in the blood can also be reduced as a result of taking medications, for example, Progesterone, ascorbic acid, Heparin, Prazosin and fish oil.

How to reduce triglyceride levels in the blood

If you have a question about how to lower triglycerides in the blood, you should first contact your doctor. If lipid levels are high, in order to bring their levels back to normal, measures such as:

• diet;
• use of medications prescribed by a doctor;
• maintaining an active lifestyle and increasing physical activity;
• quitting smoking, drinking alcohol and other bad habits.

Combining all these methods into one single complex will allow you to achieve the desired result as quickly as possible.

Diet

To reduce the content of these substances in the blood, it is necessary first of all to reduce the calorie content of the foods consumed. If you are overweight, the diet will contribute not only to weight loss and normalization of TG concentrations, but also to the overall health of the body.

At the same time, it is advisable to choose foods that contain many healthy fatty acids (in particular, omega-3), namely, consume more vegetable oil, nuts and seafood. It is better to avoid fried and smoked foods. In addition, you should try to reduce your consumption of highly sweet flour products. Instead, it is advisable to eat more of them fresh vegetables, fruits and whole grains.

Active lifestyle

Physical activity will also help speed up the process of lowering triglyceride levels. To do this, just start moving more, walking. If desired, and on the recommendation of a doctor, daily half-hour exercise is recommended. This could be a training session gym, swimming, morning jogging, cycling or regular exercise.

A few months after following a diet in combination with physical activity, it is necessary to retake a biochemical blood test and check the TG concentration. If the process of normalization of these substances is delayed, the doctor prescribes drug therapy.

Taking medications

If the level of triglycerides in the bloodstream is elevated, then it can be influenced using drugs included in a separate group of drugs:

• a nicotinic acid;
• statins – Atorvastatin, Rosuvastatin and others;
• fibrates – Fenofibrate, Clofibrate and others.

What it is - triglycerides in the blood, as well as their normal level, only a specialist can tell you. Along with this, it is he who must prescribe all the above drugs, since each drug on this list has quite serious contraindications. The information in this article is provided for informational purposes only; detailed advice can only be obtained from a doctor. A specialist will also be able to tell you how advisable it would be to take various nutritional supplements that contain fatty acids. This, for example, could serve fish fat.

Triglycerides in the blood in children

An increase in the amount of TG in the blood can also occur in children; in them this occurs due to congenital dysfunction of lipid metabolism, in the presence of Down syndrome, ailments associated with the thyroid gland, or excessive weight. If a child has an elevated level of these lipids, he is given a full examination, based on the results of which a specialist will be able to make the right decision.

In general, the set of supporting measures consists of compliance correct mode nutrition and diet described earlier. You can take fish oil as a support. If the child is over ten years old and the new diet does not have the desired effect, the doctor prescribes statins. Initially, he looks at what the triglyceride level shows in the blood test, and then prescribes specific medications.

Important: the dosage should be minimal, but it is extremely important to comply with it!

Along with the diet, the child is advised to exercise and bring his body weight to normal levels for his age.

Many abnormalities in the human body can be detected even at the testing stage. For example, if a blood biochemistry analysis shows that triglycerides are elevated, then this is a signal that changes in the blood may affect internal organs. It is necessary to treat the problem right now, and the first thing you should do is start collecting information, so that you can then, together with your doctor, develop tactics for improving your body’s health.

Causes of increased triglycerides

First you need to find out what triglycerides actually are. This word refers to a whole group of fat-soluble blood components, and each of these components is needed by the body in certain quantities and is also necessarily contained in the cells. Moreover, cells feed on the energy that triglycerides give it, so it cannot be said that this component of the blood plasma is harmful or useless.

A chemist would describe triglycerides as an organic ester in which three molecules of different fats are combined with one molecule of glycerol. Triglycerides enter the blood through food and are also synthesized independently in the liver from carbohydrates. The synthesis of triglycerides can also occur due to fat depots, which are present in many people who consume large amounts of high-calorie foods, however, this only happens if the reserves of glucose in the blood are depleted.

Also, triglycerides should not be confused with cholesterol. Yes, both of these components of blood plasma are the fat fraction, and they often enter the human body with food, but there are significant differences between them. Thus, triglycerides, unlike cholesterol, are extremely rarely deposited on the walls of arteries and do not form plaques. We can say that triglycerides are the same fat, only without cholesterol.

In a healthy person, a blood plasma biochemistry test should show a triglyceride level of up to 1.5 mmol/l. Doctors note that an increase in the level to 2 units is not yet dangerous or critical and does not require decisions to be made to reduce it, but it does provide an opportunity to think about the reasons why the balance is upset. Elevated triglycerides should be treated equally with concomitant diseases.

The main causes of elevated triglycerides in the blood are as follows:

• chronic kidney and thyroid diseases;
• regular overeating and consumption of high-calorie foods;
• anorexia;
• frequent consumption of alcohol-containing drinks;
• obesity;
• pancreatitis;
• cardiac ischemia;
• gout;
• thalassemia (a type of anemia);
• taking certain medications;
• diabetes;
• low physical activity.

For many people, it may be a revelation that among the causes include not only typical diseases associated with an unhealthy lifestyle (overeating, physical inactivity), but also those diseases in which a person, on the contrary, feels and looks weak and exhausted. In other words, an increase in triglyceride levels does not indicate a tendency to obesity, but a fundamental disruption of metabolism and the functioning of all organs, and there may be several reasons for this. Treatment should only take place under the supervision of a physician.

Features of increase in women

Indeed, an increase in triglycerides per milliliter of blood for men and women can mean that there are different problems going on in their bodies that need to be treated differently. It is better to identify the cause and begin treatment in a timely manner to avoid provoking many diseases.

So, if a woman’s triglycerides are elevated, then you need to find out how often she takes hormonal drugs. The fact is that most of them disrupt natural hormonal levels, which leads to changes in the metabolic processes that occur in a woman’s body. Contraceptives can change phase activity female cycle, increase or shorten one of them, and thereby give the body incorrect signals and urges. This reason may serve as a signal to the gynecologist that it is better to replace the drug being taken, and additional treatment may not be required.

Many women try to treat the problem of excess weight by taking thiazide diuretics, without completely addressing the underlying cause of weight gain. Many articles talk about the dangers of this method for the entire body, and in this case there is no benefit in the form of direct breakdown of fat from the depot. In addition, diuretics greatly increase the percentage of triglycerides in the plasma and also thicken the blood. Doctors consider this situation very dangerous. Without treating obesity and losing excess weight, women only aggravate the situation and worsen their well-being.

Also, increased levels of triglycerides in women are observed in the first months of pregnancy. An increase in blood lipid composition during this period is associated with a restructuring of all systems in the body. Now the woman’s body is working to accumulate energy and calories that will be required to nourish the fetus. Lowering triglyceride levels and treatment may be inappropriate and even harmful, but a doctor can still provide nutritional advice that can help a woman ease into the second trimester without further problems.

The detection in the analysis of a critically high content of triglycerides in a woman’s body during pregnancy, associated with excessive overeating, actually makes the blood thick and greatly increases its density. For a gynecologist, such a high rate in a pregnant woman indicates that nutritional components from the blood to the fetus through the placenta are not so active, and treatment of a pregnancy that occurs with pathology may still be required.

Features of enhancement in men

To begin with, we should please the stronger half of humanity with the fact that the value of the optimal level of triglyceride content in the blood plasma for men is higher than for women, and therefore you should compare your results only using the table. The difference between the values ​​for men and women can be almost 50%.

For men there is a reason high content triglycerides is almost always the same and is associated with an unhealthy lifestyle. This can include a lot, from frequent large feasts with high-calorie foods and alcoholic drinks to the love of men to spend time sitting in front of the TV or behind a monitor screen.

Stress, along with excess weight, can also cause increased lipid levels, and this affects men much more often, because they get irritated for any reason much faster. By the way, some immunosuppressants, such as cyclosporine, can also negatively affect the biochemical parameters of the blood and increase some lipid components of a man. If this drug is prescribed for the treatment of stress by a doctor, then you should inform him about the changes that it caused.

There are other causes of elevated triglycerides in men, and most often this concerns amateurs. speed dial muscle mass. Thus, the use of androgens and corticosteroids, once popular among male bodybuilding fans, leads to a dangerous increase in the content of this component of the blood plasma. Stopping the drug is the main treatment and improvement of the situation with blood lipid components.

If cholesterol is normal but triglycerides are increased

Doctors do not see this situation very often, since triglycerides increase in parallel with other fatty components of the blood, which also turn out to be elevated. If cholesterol is normal and triglycerides are elevated, the reasons should be sought in the actions that the person carried out most recently. Very often this situation happens on the second or third day of the diet, when cholesterol actually decreases, but elevated triglyceride levels are less sensitive to such rapid changes. As the main treatment measure, you can suggest a consultation with a nutritionist who will tell you the basic rules for following a diet.

The results of tests when donating blood on an empty stomach, where only the triglyceride content is increased, indicate that the reason for the patient’s poor health lies in problems with the spleen and liver. This may mean that these organs are enlarged, and treatment in this case will be lengthy.

Also, with normal cholesterol levels, triglycerides may be elevated if systemic diseases, such as diabetes. Due to impaired glucose tolerance, triglyceride levels are constantly high. Managing diabetes takes a lifetime for many people.

Cause higher level triglycerides may also be due to excessive work of the adrenal cortex, as well as pancreatitis and hyperchylomicronemia. Tests of patients with alcoholism, nephrotic syndrome or hypothyroidism will also show constantly elevated triglyceride levels, but cholesterol levels will be normal. Treatment in this case will involve taking special medications.

In all these situations, a discrepancy between the level of triglycerides and cholesterol may mean the need for additional research to establish the true cause of the current clinical picture, and only then the doctor should give professional recommendations on how to treat it.

Symptoms of elevated triglycerides

The symptoms will closely resemble the typical clinical picture of an obese person. This includes increased blood pressure for no reason, instability of blood sugar, and decreased levels of high-density lipoproteins (“good” cholesterol). By the way, frequent insulin resistance can also be a symptom, which makes it possible to dismiss diabetes as the only disease occurring in the body.

High blood pressure for no reason can also be a symptom of an imbalance in the biochemical balance of the blood, in particular the level of triglycerides. It is important to understand that elevated triglyceride levels lead to increased blood viscosity. The plasma becomes very viscous, and this creates a number of problems. Blood can no longer flow quickly through the bloodstream, which is why pressure increases. Hemoglobin cannot freely deliver oxygen to blood cells, which is why they are nourished worse and cannot function fully. All this greatly affects a person’s well-being. Fatigue for no reason, lethargy, feeling unwell - all of these can be symptoms of dangerously high triglyceride levels and indicate the need for immediate treatment.

How to lower triglycerides?

If a blood biochemistry test shows an increase in blood lipid components, and the person has already developed the first unpleasant symptoms, then it is necessary to begin active actions, to lower triglyceride levels and prevent numerous complications that can arise from inactivity.

Follow a diet

You need to watch your diet. This does not mean that you need to limit yourself in everything and reduce caloric intake to a critical level. Fats are just as necessary for the body as carbohydrates and proteins, as well as vitamins and microelements. It is only important to reduce the amount of high-calorie food, and also to correctly evaluate all food in terms of its nutritional value, not just calories, and that is what the diet is all about.

So, most of the incoming fats must not only be reduced, but replaced with vegetable oils. This will help create an optimal balance of high-density lipoproteins, which help in the fight to reduce cholesterol and triglycerides. It is important to remember that vegetable fats are much higher in calories than animal fats, and therefore the amount taken with food must be reduced.

Also, when following a diet, you should reduce the amount of sugar you take, since it does not help reduce elevated triglyceride levels and even provokes their increase. Most people know that the human brain and liver are powered by glucose, but it is also produced from complex carbohydrates, which are broken down gradually in the body. Experts do not talk about completely eliminating simple sugar from the diet, but reducing its amount is quite possible. By the way, many products contain hidden sugar, as stated on the packaging. This includes ketchup, yogurt, mayonnaise, some alcoholic drinks and even bread. Many of these products position themselves as dishes for healthy eating, although they actually are not. Of course, it is better to reduce the consumption of these products or completely eliminate them from your diet.

Rejection of bad habits

Alcohol is a source of extra “empty” calories that provide no nutritional value. Moreover, alcohol often destroys a person’s life, his family and professional sphere. This subsequently leads to the appearance of frequent stressful situations, which does not have a positive effect on the condition of the body. With a high degree of probability, a biochemistry test will show an increased level of triglycerides. Reducing the amount of alcohol you drink means improving your life in all respects. The same can be said about nicotine.

Despite the fact that this habit does not entail an increase in total caloric intake, nevertheless, the components cigarette smoke components affect the composition of blood plasma. Cigarettes help thicken the blood and increase its density, which means an increased concentration of triglycerides is almost inevitable. You can reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke per day gradually, or better yet, in one day. In this case, you need to seek the help of a specialist so as not to return to the starting point after a few weeks, when the number of cigarettes smoked has been reduced and brought to a minimum.

Physical activity

It is difficult to list the diseases that you can get rid of if you regularly engage in physical exercise. Nobody talks about setting running or cycling records on the first day. Physical activity can even mean dancing, which also improves your mood, and two problems have already been solved - stress and elevated triglycerides. If visiting the gym is impossible for some reason, then you can simply start walking more.

For example, in the first week you can leave one stop earlier than required, and walk the remaining distance to work. Next week you need to get out public transport even earlier, and so on. Very soon a person will begin to feel lightness throughout his whole body, and even an extra couple of kilometers will seem like a short walk, thanks to which his mood will improve, his whole body will become toned, and a healthy glow will appear on his face. The reflection of a person’s appearance will be fully consistent with the improvements in biochemical blood analysis that will soon occur, which means that it will be possible to forget about problems in blood analysis. Once elevated triglyceride levels return to normal, it is important to continue to live an active life and do everything possible to stay in shape. This should now become the norm, because this is the only way to stay healthy in the modern world.

Drug treatment

Drug therapy can only be carried out under the strict supervision of a physician. The main drugs designed to lower elevated triglyceride levels are fenofibrate and gemfibrozil. Both of these drugs belong to the group of fibrates, which are essentially carboxylic acids that have the ability to attract fat and water molecules. Another effect of fibrates is the ability to reduce the liver's production of components that transport triglycerides. It is important to know that fibrates are not completely safe. In some cases they provoke the formation gallstones and cause digestive upset. When used together with statins, they can cause muscle damage. They should not be taken together with blood thinners.

A special type of carboxylic acid is nicotinic acid, known as vitamin PP. Taking it helps reduce triglycerides in the blood. Its additional property is the ability to increase the content of “good” lipid particles in the blood. Side effects when taking it are extremely rare, but you should be aware of them: dizziness, difficulty breathing, yellowness of the face.

Statins are powerful drugs that help reduce the level of all types of lipoproteins in the blood plasma. The main property of this drug is the ability to lower cholesterol levels, and the normalization of triglyceride levels is only a positive side effect. Meanwhile, statins increase the risk of diabetes and can cause liver problems. Statins should only be taken under the supervision of a physician. Some people have to take drugs from this group for the rest of their lives.

Finally, another group of drugs that help reduce elevated triglyceride levels in the blood is omega-3. This component was first isolated from fish, and it is marine inhabitants that contain it in the greatest number. Unfortunately, fish consumption is not so popular in some countries, and therefore one should not be surprised by public health problems. On sale, omega-3 is most often found in the form of capsules with a gelatin shell. Thanks to this shell, the capsule has no taste or smell, which is especially important for those who do not like fish. The breakdown of the capsule occurs in the stomach, from where omega-3 enters the blood and helps reduce elevated triglyceride levels.

Omega-3 is not considered an independent drug, but this does not mean that the effect of its use should not be underestimated. Sometimes only this remedy can significantly reduce blood lipid components, and generally improve the results of blood biochemistry tests. In addition, omega-3 contains a valuable element - iodine, and hypothyroidism is a disease that often goes along with elevated triglycerides. In this way, the patient solves two problems at once to improve his physical condition.

Several traditional medicine recipes

To reduce blood lipid components, traditional medicine experts say that juice therapy is excellent in lowering blood lipids. To do this, it is recommended to drink juices, especially vegetable juices. Fruit juices contain too much fructose, which quickly transforms into glucose and increases sugar levels in the body. Even when eating fruit, this does not happen, because in this form the product has not yet been cleared of fiber.

So, beetroot juice is great for reducing high triglyceride levels. It should be drunk in small sips 2 times a day, 100 ml before meals. This should be done for two weeks. The tests after such a popular recipe will be stunning, and this is without the use of drugs. In addition, lowering lipid components in this way means providing yourself with vitamins and microelements. You can’t drink beet juice immediately after squeezing; you need to let it sit for 20-30 minutes to essential oils, of which there is a huge amount in beet juice, have lost their aggressiveness and become less active.

Lemon juice is also used for juice therapy. You need to combine the juice of half a lemon with 0.5 liter of hot water and let it brew for 10 minutes. You need to drink this mixture in small sips between meals, 2-3 times a day. It can also be made and used as a salad dressing, allowing you to discreetly reduce your fat intake.

Infusions

Herbal medicine has enormous potential and big amount traditional medicine recipes that can be used by anyone who suffers from high triglyceride levels. Experts say that herbs can completely replace drugs created in the laboratory. To prepare the infusion, you need to take 20 g of yarrow flowers, 5 g of arnica flowers and 25 g of St. John's wort flowers. All ingredients are mixed and poured with a glass of boiling water. To obtain a strong infusion, the collection must be infused for at least an hour. Then it must be strained. You need to make this infusion for a day, and then prepare a new one. It is important not to drink it like a regular liquid, but to retain it in the mouth, which promotes rapid absorption into the blood. The course of treatment to lower blood lipid levels is one month. If after the course the triglycerides are still elevated, the treatment can be repeated again in a month.

Another simple and inexpensive infusion consists of the simplest ingredients, or rather, from the cores that people usually throw away. To prepare it, you need to pour boiling water over the skins of tangerines, oranges and lemons (in different combinations), let it brew for 2-3 hours, and then drink this infusion throughout the day. This recipe allows you to reduce triglyceride levels in any season, because citrus fruits can always be found on sale.

Sea buckthorn oil

Herbalists note that regular use can significantly improve various indicators of blood biochemistry analysis. Sea buckthorn oil can lower elevated triglyceride levels very gently and almost imperceptibly for humans. It is recommended to take the oil 3 times a day, one teaspoon half an hour before meals. The course of such treatment is one month.

Oats

Pour two tablespoons of natural oats (not rolled oats!) into a glass of water. The cereal must be allowed to brew overnight. The next day you need to drink this water periodically between meals. Traditional medicine specialists say that this recipe allows you to remove extra sugar, as well as regulate cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Example of a daily diet

Breakfast. It is the same for all days, as it provides the necessary amount of energy and calories to start your day. So, breakfast consists of:

• 1 cup low-fat milk (200 ml);
• unsweetened coffee (50-100 ml);
• 40 g of bread with bran.

Dinner. Options:

• soup with beans and barley, cauliflower steamed, unsweetened fruit;
• 70 g (the norm is given for a dry product) durum wheat pasta, 2 baked sardines, unsweetened fruit, a portion of boiled spinach;
• 70 g unpolished rice, arugula, 100 g low-fat goat cheese, unsweetened fruit;
• 70 g barley (in the form of porridge), arugula salad, 150 g roast beef, unsweetened fruit;
• soup with vegetables and wheat, 1 carrot, 200 g of boiled sturgeon, unsweetened fruit;
• brown rice, unsweetened fruit, vegetable salad;
• 70 g durum pasta, 2 baked sardines, baked peppers, seasoned with olive oil, parsley and lemon juice.

Dinner. Options:

• 200 g grilled salmon fillet, a piece of bread with cereals, salad with arugula, unsweetened fruit;
• green bean salad, 2 eggs and tomatoes, a piece of bread with cereals, unsweetened fruit;
• 100 g low-fat goat cheese, 200 g tomatoes, a piece of bread with cereals;
• 60 g (standard for dry product) boiled chickpeas, 2 boiled radishes, a piece of bread with cereals, unsweetened fruit;
• 200 g of baked mackerel, vegetable salad, a piece of bread with cereals, unsweetened fruit;
• 100 g lean pork, 200 g boiled beets, a piece of bread with cereals, unsweetened fruit;
• 150 g grilled turkey breast, vegetable salad, a piece of bread with vegetables, unsweetened fruit.

All salads can be dressed with a mixture of olive oil, balsamic vinegar and lemon juice, which also helps reduce blood fat components. As a snack, it is better to use baked vegetables or fruits, among which you cannot choose starchy ones. The diet is designed for two weeks, after which the norm of some products can be increased.

For the most part, lipid metabolism is disturbed in middle-aged and older people, but in some cases, the presence of elevated triglyceride levels has been observed in a child since childhood. This is most often associated with high body weight, but may also indicate problems with the thyroid gland. Elevated triglyceride levels are also seen in Down syndrome. If this biochemical component is overestimated, the child must adhere to a diet that should satisfy all the needs of the growing body, but at the same time not contribute to the increase in fat mass. If the diet does not produce results, then from the age of 10 the child can be prescribed statins, initially with very small doses. And of course, parents will have to instill in such a child the desire for a healthy lifestyle and constant monitoring of their body weight.

When a blood test shows that the level is too high, action must be taken as your health is at risk, so we give you some tips on how to lower your triglyceride levels simple methods and thus protect your health.

Too high levels of triglycerides in the blood, like high cholesterol levels, lead to a risk of cardiovascular disease, but also indicate signs of diseases such as cirrhosis, diabetes, fatty liver disease, hyperthyroidism or pancreatitis.

The first obvious condition for reducing triglyceride levels is to change the nature of the diet: it is necessary to increase the intake of fiber, especially oats and whole grains, which help eliminate fat from the body, vegetables like spinach and broccoli and fruits: orange, tangerine and apple also - large springs fibers.

Reduce the consumption of white bread, pasta, salty snacks, fried foods and alcohol, all this does not bring health benefits at all, it can only increase the content of lipids present in the blood. They should be replaced with whole foods and more healthy foods nutrition

Reducing the consumption of refined foods is not as difficult as it may seem: choose saccharin to sweeten, control the consumption of sugary carbonated drinks and prefer diet drinks, choose fruit salads and fresh fruits instead of confectionery sweets, choose dark chocolate with 70% cocoa and prepare natural juices at home instead of buying them packaged. These are small but very useful changes.

Choose low-fat dairy products (cheeses and yogurts included), use olive oil to season food instead of heavier seasonings, eat lean animal protein, and avoid high-fat foods such as mayonnaise or butter.

Regarding sausages, replace them with turkey meat or lean ham and reserve only for special occasions such products as smoked sausage, salami, etc. If the choice falls on sausages, it is better to choose if they are made from chicken or turkey, with a reduced salt content. Consult in more detail what you can eat if you have high triglyceride levels.

It is important to increase physical activity, this is a really fast way to reduce triglycerides in the blood. If you are not very comfortable with the gym or aerobic exercises, 30 minutes of walking a day will be enough to make this condition easier.

Additionally home remedy: Mix two tablespoons of natural oats in a glass of water and let it brew overnight. The next day, drink this water, it will help remove fats and sugars by regulating the level of triglycerides and cholesterol in the blood.

An infusion made from the peel of an orange or tangerine poured into boiling water is also a popular medicine for regulating triglycerides.

At first glance, these changes in eating habits may seem very difficult to stick to, but they are relevant to your health, so all the effort is worthwhile. These tips will help you lose some pounds. It's worth making the effort to eat better and lead a more active life.

Triglycerides are elevated

Most adipose tissue in the human body consists of triglycerides. These organic compounds are the most common type of lipids and the main source of energy.

Their bulk is stored in the tissues, but some of them circulate with the blood. The permissible level of triglycerides (TG) in the blood is limited to normal.

If there is a violation of fat metabolism and the amount of TG exceeds the optimal value, there is a threat of diseases of the cardiovascular system, especially atherosclerosis. The reason is that excess triglycerides settle on arterial walls and inhibit blood circulation.

Causes of elevated triglycerides

Exceeding the norm by triglycerides does not manifest itself with characteristic external symptoms. How high the risk of atherosclerosis is can be assessed by performing a lipid profile, which records the levels of various types of cholesterol.

Exceeding TG permissible values ​​can be caused by:

• errors in nutrition. Not only an unbalanced diet has a negative impact, but also the consumption of such an amount of calories that is not consumed per day and accumulates in the form of fat;
• obesity - most often a consequence of a previous cause;
• heredity and congenital disorders of fat metabolism;
• insufficient physical activity;
• taking certain medications, such as steroids, diuretics, beta blockers. Long-term use of oral contraceptives and various sex hormones can also upset the balance of TG in the direction of its growth.

Elevated levels of triglycerides accompany illnesses or provoke their development. This applies to the following diseases:

• arterial hypertension;
• thrombosis of cerebral vessels;
• atherosclerosis;
• cirrhosis of the liver;
• viral hepatitis;
• diabetes;
• gout;
• myocardial infarction;
• hypercalcemia;
• chronic renal failure.

Due to elevated TG levels, acute pancreatitis may develop, which is accompanied by severe pain, encircling the entire body.

A slight increase in triglyceride levels is observed in pregnant women. If a woman is healthy, then TG quickly return to optimal limits after the birth of the baby.

Features of increased triglyceride levels in children

Increases in permissible triglyceride values ​​in children are a common occurrence. The causes may be the following pathologies:

• diseases of the thyroid gland, in particular hypothyroidism;
• Down syndrome;
• lipid metabolism disorder, congenital and hereditary.

In this case, only treatment of the underlying disease can help. True, Down syndrome is incurable.

Subjective reasons that should be avoided can also increase TG levels:

• poor nutrition;
• insufficient physical activity.

If you don’t adjust your diet in time and don’t teach your baby to exercise, he can quickly get better and even become obese. This is a serious health hazard.

To avoid an increase in triglycerides and subsequent problems, parents need to monitor the child’s menu and instill in him a desire to exercise. The child should be instilled with the understanding that weight should be appropriate for age.

Prevention

Preventive measures are always useful and help not to solve existing problems, but to prevent their occurrence. Their list does not contain anything new, but suggests ways to help prevent an increase in TG levels:

• The consumption of sweets and starchy foods should be limited to a minimum. Why spend money on such products when you can enjoy fresh fruits, berries and low-fat yoghurts. They will successfully replace sweet and flour desserts.
• When choosing fruits, you should give preference not to sweet, but to more sour types: green apples, kiwi, oranges, blueberries, strawberries. Melon, bananas, grapes, peaches should also be in the diet, but in smaller quantities.
• Alcoholic drinks in small doses? Yes. But in large quantities and often - in no case.
• It is necessary to prepare dishes from fatty fish (salmon, salmon) at least once a week. It’s also good to eat seafood, such as mussels and oysters, shrimp, and squid. Crabs are also a great option.
• The body must receive fiber. Vegetables and flour products from whole grains.
• Prepared meat products should be consumed less frequently. Even low-fat varieties contain up to 30% animal fat, which is harmful to the body.
• Give preference to vegetable proteins: beans, soy, tofu.
• It is necessary to give up unhealthy street food and cook more on your own. It is very useful to use a steamer, oven, or grill in this process.

In addition to changing the nutritional structure, it is necessary to improve the food intake itself. You need to eat more often, chew foods thoroughly and under no circumstances overeat. This has also been known for a long time, but is often ignored.

Medicines that lower triglycerides

Quite often, sticking to a diet does not help improve the situation. And a person, due to his age, is no longer able to strictly limit himself in food and actively engage in physical education. Then medications come to the rescue, taking them helps lower triglyceride levels.

The most effective of them are:

• Statins are drugs that help reduce the production of cholesterol in the liver and, as a result, reduce its level in the life-giving fluid. Medicines help reduce the likelihood of heart attacks and prolong life.
• Fibrates (derivatives). The mechanical effect of the drugs is associated with the normalization of fat metabolism by improving the activity of the enzyme lipoprotein lipase (LPL). They are more effective than statins.
• Nicotinic acid (niacin) - this vitamin is involved in many redox reactions, in the processes of formation of enzymes, metabolism of fats and carbohydrates in the cells of the body.
• Omega-3 fatty acids help to quickly reduce TG levels. Transparent capsules filled with fish oil are sold in every pharmacy. Like all medications, the drug should not be abused. In large quantities, omega-3 thins the blood, lowers sugar levels and blood pressure, and sometimes has a suppressive effect on the psyche.

Traditional medicine

Before swallowing pills, you can try the following methods of lowering TG:

• Juice therapy. The most effective way to use lemon and beet juices is:
  • Prepare half a lemon and squeeze the juice out of it into half a liter of hot water. Stir well and drink in two or three doses throughout the day. Lemon juice can be poured over salads made from fresh vegetables. It will perfectly replace any other gas station.
  • Fresh beet juice should be taken for two weeks: one hundred grams twice a day (morning and evening).
• Infusions. Here is the recipe for one of them: mix yarrow (20 g), St. John's wort (25 g) and flowers mountain arnica(5 g). Pour a glass of boiling water over the herbs and leave for an hour.
  Drink the resulting infusion in small portions a day. In order for the product to help stabilize TG levels, it must be taken for at least a month.
• Sea buckthorn oil - universal remedy, relieving many painful conditions. Its use is also acceptable for normalizing TG levels. The oil should be taken half an hour before meals, one teaspoon.

If you detect elevated levels of triglycerides, you should not rush to take medications intensively. First of all, you need to improve your menu and remove bad habits. Exercising will also help get rid of the problem.

Triglycerides in the blood are elevated: causes, treatment, table of norms

Triglycerides are one of the types of fats that ensure full functioning human body. In other words, it is fuel for cells. They enter the body along with high-calorie - fatty and high-carbohydrate foods, and are synthesized inside the body: in the liver, intestines, and adipose tissue.

Positive properties of triglycerides

If we draw an analogy between a person and a car, then triglycerides are an analogue of gasoline. Until the required amount of fuel enters the body, it is impossible to work productively.

If a person has to do intense mental work: working on a computer, interviews, studying documents, it is necessary to nourish the brain. Given the fact that Gray matter consists of 80% fat, you should eat a good portion of steak or fatty fish, a sandwich with butter, chicken eggs and other products useful for brain activity. Residents of cold regions vitally need fat-containing products to protect them from frost.

A certain amount of triglycerides is absolutely necessary for the body. But excess lipids can lead to negative results.

An elevated level of triglycerides in the blood automatically places a person at risk. This applies to people of any age: young and old men, women and even children. It is believed that the problem becomes more severe with age. But modern abundance, the availability of products, the desire of parents to “pamper” their child with sweets and cakes lead to negative consequences. The disease is getting younger every year.

The consequence of excessive consumption of sweet and fatty foods is obesity and a number of other serious complications. If a heavy meal is not followed by vigorous activity, the body perceives this as a signal: “we are preparing for worst times, we are putting aside supplies.” All excesses received with food: carbohydrates, proteins and fats are sent to the pantry (fat cells) until better times. The content of triglycerides in the blood becomes excessive. This can lead to difficult-to-treat diseases. The list of diseases can be very long. Here are just a few of them:

• obesity;
• uncontrolled diabetes mellitus;
• hypertension;
• atherosclerosis;
• thrombosis of cerebral vessels;
• gout;
• stroke;
• heart disease varying degrees heaviness;
• heart attack

Elevated triglyceride levels are rare congenital disease. These are mainly the consequences of an unbalanced diet, kidney disease, and improper functioning of the thyroid gland. Drug treatment with certain medications can also lead to negative consequences: steroids, beta blockers, diuretics, and taking birth control pills. In some cases, there is also a genetic predisposition to elevated levels of triglycerides in the blood - this is usually accompanied by xanthomas (visible subcutaneous fat deposits).

An increase in triglycerides in the blood occurs asymptomatically, and this creates serious problems, because violations can only be identified by passing a detailed blood test.

The normal triglyceride levels for people of different age categories are shown in the following table:

Units of measurement: mmol/l.

Alternative units: mg/dL = mg/100 ml = mg%

Conversion factors: mg/dL x 0.0113 => mmol/L.

How to normalize the amount of fat in the blood

Triglycerides in the blood test are elevated - what to do? There's no need to panic. In most cases, until the disease is advanced, its treatment is simple. There are 3 main methods of dealing with the problem:

• diet
• drug treatment
• prevention

Diet involves replacing unsuitable foods with healthy ones. It’s worth getting rid of the habit of consuming “empty calories” once and for all. Pleasant taste sensations they do not always indicate high-quality and healthy products.

Those wishing to reduce their blood triglyceride levels should stop using or minimize their intake of refined sugar and confectionery, alcohol, rolls and cakes, fatty sausages, all kinds of sausages, as well as semolina.

Fish and seafood will help restore elasticity to blood vessels and improve blood circulation naturally.

Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids daily.

It is enough to eat about 200 grams of fatty fish for lunch every day or eat crabs, squid, shellfish, shrimp, and oysters twice a day.

It is useful to take vitamins and nutritional supplements:

• fish fat;
• vitamin B3 or niacin;
• soluble fiber.

Folk remedies that have the properties of cleansing blood vessels have shown themselves to be effective. It is recommended to actively use aromatic herbs, garlic, turmeric, ginger, green tea, and artichokes when preparing food and drinks.

Unfortunately, changing your diet does not always give positive result. In such cases, drug treatment is required. The doctor will examine your problem and prescribe a suitable course of medications.

The most effective drugs are fibrates. They reduce the level of triglycerides in the blood and increase the amount of high-density lipoproteins.

Another group of drugs are statins. They are designed to combat “bad” cholesterol. When used, the mechanism of suppression of the enzyme responsible for the production of cholesterol works.

Attention: do not self-medicate. Each drug has a number of side effects. Only a specialist can correctly determine the dosage and duration of taking the drug.

Based on your medical history, the attending physician will select individual treatment every patient.

It is easier to prevent a disease than to treat it

Prevention is the most effective method preventing the occurrence of various diseases. Preventing a situation where triglycerides are elevated is much easier than treating the elevation. Moreover, the rules of prevention are extremely simple and natural:

• the lifestyle should be healthy, the products should be healthy: more vegetables, herbs, fish;
• sweet treats should be replaced with fruits, sugar with honey;
• It is better not to drink alcohol at all or to reduce its intake to a minimum;
• you can only drink clean water or weak tea, instant powdered juices and sweet soda are prohibited;
• no smoking - clubs tobacco smoke have not benefited anyone yet;
• It is advisable to spend as much time as possible in nature; feasible physical activity is useful: physiotherapy, swimming, cycling, skiing.

It’s worth taking care of your own body, and your quality of life will certainly improve!

Other related articles:

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Therapist of the first category, private medical Center"Dobromed", Moscow. Scientific consultant of the electronic journal "Diabet-sugar.rf".

14 Ways to Lower Blood Triglycerides

As you gain weight, triglycerides accumulate in the blood

The risk of heart attacks and strokes is associated not only with high cholesterol, but also with elevated triglycerides in the blood. How to reduce them? Read and watch in the new slideshow...

1. Triglycerides gradually accumulate in the blood

If your weight has increased by a few kilograms, then check your annual blood test results. you may notice an increase in triglyceride levels. These fats are an important source of energy in your body, but when present in high levels in your blood, they can harm your heart. Like cholesterol, triglycerides can lead to clogged arteries and cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke. Fortunately, there are many ways to lower your blood triglyceride levels.

2. Involvement of triglycerides in general disease

Metabolic syndrome is a serious disease

High triglyceride levels may be part of a disease condition called metabolic syndrome. Other components metabolic syndrome may include:

Low HDL (“good” cholesterol)

3. What foods increase triglycerides in the blood?

Sweet fatty foods increase triglycerides in the blood

This is a latte with lots of cream, a hot cheese sandwich, a large portion of ice cream before bed - all this can lead to an increase in triglycerides. If you frequently eat more calories than you burn, triglycerides may gradually begin to accumulate in your body over time. cardiovascular system. The main culprits of this process that threatens you are sugary foods and foods high in saturated fats, such as cheese, whole milk, and red meat.

4. Say no to sugar

Giving up sugar is difficult, but necessary

If you have high triglycerides, keep your sugar intake under control. Simple sugars, especially fructose (the sugar found in plant fruits), raise triglyceride levels. Cut down on foods made with added sugar, including soft drinks, baked treats, candy, most breakfast cereals, flavored yogurts and ice cream.

5. Uncover Hidden Sugars

Read the labels on the foods you buy, paying attention to the amount of added sugar and words such as brown sugar, corn syrup, words ending in “ose” (dextrose, fructose, glucose, lactose, maltose, sucrose), concentrated fruit juices, cane syrup, cane sugar, honey, malt sugar, molasses, unrefined sugar.

6. Focus on fiber

Vegetable salad is a source of fiber

Replace products made with white flour with products made with whole wheat flour. This will increase the amount of fiber in your diet, which helps lower triglyceride levels. For breakfast, eat porridge, such as oatmeal with berries instead of sugar, in lunch time─ vegetable salad with peas or beans. For dinner, choose brown rice or quinoa seeds instead of potatoes or pasta.

7. Eat the right fats

Avocado and walnuts- sources of healthy fats

Eating some fat is good for your health, as long as it is healthy fat that does not clog your blood vessels. Choose products that contain natural mono- and polyunsaturated fats: avocado, nuts, skinless chicken, canola, flaxseed or olive oil. Avoid trans fats, which are found in many processed foods such as French fries, crackers, cakes, chips, and margarine. Avoid eating a lot of saturated fat, found in red meat, ice cream, cheese, and baked goods with shortening.

8. Choose fish instead of red meat

Fatty fish are a source of omega-3

The same omega-3 fats. which are so good for the heart, may also help lower triglyceride levels. So from time to time (at least twice a week) eat fish instead of a hamburger or steak - salmon, mackerel, herring, lake trout, tuna, sardines - all of them are high in omega-3 fatty acids.

9. Eat nuts and greens

Brussels sprouts with walnuts

Good sources of omega-3:

10. Do you need omega-3 supplements?

Capsules food additives with omega-3

Consult your doctor. Capsules can provide you with concentrated omega-3 fatty acids. but not all of them are needed and some may be redundant. You can do without them by lowering your triglyceride levels through healthy eating choices. Please note that high doses Omega-3s may cause bleeding in some people, but if your doctor says you won't, look for capsules labeled EPA and DHA, two powerful types of omega-3s.

11. Reduce your alcohol intake

Do you like white wine? Switch to a savory herbal tea

Do you like to relax with a glass of wine, beer or cocktail? Switch to sparkling water with a squeeze of lime juice. Or try a zesty herbal iced tea that tastes great without added sugar. Excessive alcohol consumption is one of the causes of high triglyceride levels, so it is recommended not to drink more than one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men ((1 drink = 1 glass of vodka or cognac (25–30 ml) = 1 glass of wine (100–120 ml) = 1 small beer (220–260 ml) Even small amounts of alcohol can raise triglyceride levels in some people.

12. Avoid sugary drinks

Cold water with lemon instead of sweet soda

One of the simplest things you can do to lower your triglyceride levels is to avoid drinking sweetened drinks altogether. Soda and other sugary drinks are loaded with fructose, a known culprit in raising blood triglycerides. If you cannot completely give up sugary drinks, reduce them to 1 liter per week, no more.

13. Lose excess weight

Excess weight increases triglycerides in the blood

Excess weight, especially with an increased waist size, increases triglyceride levels. One of the biggest things you can do to lower your triglycerides is to remove overweight weight. It's not as difficult as you think. Lose 3-5 kg ​​and your triglycerides can drop significantly.

14. Move more

Losing weight will lead to a decrease in triglycerides in the blood

If you have a few extra pounds around your waist, then start regular exercise. You will not only improve your figure, but also reduce the level of triglycerides in your blood at the same time. Exercise every day for 30 minutes for five days a week until you break out in a sweat and feel a rush of adrenaline, then your triglycerides will decrease by 20% to 30%. If you are a beginner and have never exercised before, take a dance class, swim or walk every day, gradually increasing the distance.

15. Get a physical exam

Blood test results received

As a result of your physical examination, a simple blood test can determine if you have high triglyceride levels. Your doctor may also look for related health problems, which include kidney disease. sluggishness of the thyroid gland. diabetes and obesity. Here's what the triglyceride blood test results look like:

Normal - less than 150 mg/dl (1.7 mmol/l)

Borderline value mg/dl (1.7 – 2.2)

Increased mg/dL value (2.3 – 5.6)

Very high mg/dL (5.6) and higher

16. When you need a helping hand

A helping hand wouldn't hurt

If lifestyle changes do not help enough, seek medical help. He may give you a prescription for medications that include fibrates, niacin, statins, high-dose fish oil, and a few other options. To correctly choose the best way to protect your heart, your doctor must examine the content of all fat-like (lipid) substances in your blood - triglycerides and all types of cholesterol.

Increased triglycerides in blood tests

Many abnormalities in the human body can be detected even at the testing stage. For example, if a blood biochemistry analysis shows that triglycerides are elevated, then this is a signal that changes in the blood may affect internal organs. It is necessary to treat the problem right now, and the first thing you should do is start collecting information, so that you can then, together with your doctor, develop tactics for improving your body’s health.

Causes of increased triglycerides

First you need to find out what triglycerides actually are. This word refers to a whole group of fat-soluble blood components, and each of these components is needed by the body in certain quantities and is also necessarily contained in the cells. Moreover, the cells feed on the energy that triglycerides give it, so it cannot be said that this component of the blood plasma is harmful or useless.

A chemist would describe triglycerides as an organic ester in which three molecules of different fats are combined with one molecule of glycerol. Triglycerides enter the blood through food and are also synthesized independently in the liver from carbohydrates. The synthesis of triglycerides can also occur due to fat depots, which are present in many people who consume large amounts of high-calorie foods, however, this only happens if the reserves of glucose in the blood are depleted.

Also, triglycerides should not be confused with cholesterol. Yes, both of these components of blood plasma are the fatty fraction, and they often enter the human body with food, but there are significant differences between them. Thus, triglycerides, unlike cholesterol, are extremely rarely deposited on the walls of arteries and do not form plaques. We can say that triglycerides are the same fat, only without cholesterol.

In a healthy person, a blood plasma biochemistry test should show a triglyceride level of up to 1.5 mmol/l. Doctors note that an increase in the level to 2 units is not yet dangerous or critical and does not require decisions to be made to reduce it, but it does provide an opportunity to think about the reasons why the balance is upset. Elevated triglycerides should be treated equally with concomitant diseases.

The main causes of elevated triglycerides in the blood are as follows:

• chronic kidney and thyroid diseases;
• regular overeating and consumption of high-calorie foods;
• anorexia;
• frequent consumption of alcohol-containing drinks;
• obesity;
• pancreatitis;
• cardiac ischemia;
• gout;
• thalassemia (a type of anemia);
• taking certain medications;
• diabetes;
• low physical activity.

For many people, it may be a revelation that among the causes include not only typical diseases associated with an unhealthy lifestyle (overeating, physical inactivity), but also those diseases in which a person, on the contrary, feels and looks weak and exhausted. In other words, an increase in triglyceride levels does not indicate a tendency to obesity, but a fundamental disruption of metabolism and the functioning of all organs, and there may be several reasons for this. Treatment should only take place under the supervision of a physician.

Features of increase in women

Indeed, an increase in triglycerides per milliliter of blood for men and women can mean that there are different problems going on in their bodies that need to be treated differently. It is better to identify the cause and begin treatment in a timely manner to avoid provoking many diseases. So, if a woman’s triglycerides are elevated, then you need to find out how often she takes hormonal medications. The fact is that most of them disrupt natural hormonal levels, which leads to changes in the metabolic processes that occur in a woman’s body. Contraceptives can change the activity of the phases of the female cycle, increase or shorten one of them, and thereby give the body incorrect signals and urges. This reason may serve as a signal to the gynecologist that it is better to replace the drug being taken, and additional treatment may not be required.

Many women try to treat the problem of excess weight by taking thiazide diuretics, without completely addressing the underlying cause of weight gain. Many articles talk about the dangers of this method for the entire body, and in this case there is no benefit in the form of direct breakdown of fat from the depot. In addition, diuretics greatly increase the percentage of triglycerides in the plasma and also thicken the blood. Doctors consider this situation very dangerous. Without treating obesity and losing excess weight, women only aggravate the situation and worsen their well-being.

Also, increased levels of triglycerides in women are observed in the first months of pregnancy. An increase in blood lipid composition during this period is associated with a restructuring of all systems in the body. Now the woman’s body is working to accumulate energy and calories that will be required to nourish the fetus. Lowering triglyceride levels and treatment during pregnancy may be inappropriate and even harmful, but a doctor can still provide nutritional advice that will help a woman ease into the second trimester without additional problems.

The detection in the analysis of a critically high content of triglycerides in a woman’s body during pregnancy, associated with excessive overeating, actually makes the blood thick and greatly increases its density. For a gynecologist, such a high rate in a pregnant woman indicates that nutritional components from the blood to the fetus through the placenta are not so active, and treatment of a pregnancy that occurs with pathology may still be required.

Features of enhancement in men

To begin with, you should please men with the fact that the value of the optimal level of triglyceride content in the blood plasma for men is higher than for women, and therefore you should compare your results only using the table. The difference between the values ​​for men and women can be almost 50%.

In men, the cause of high triglyceride levels is almost always the same, and it is associated with an unhealthy lifestyle. This can include a lot, from frequent large feasts with high-calorie foods and alcoholic drinks to the love of men to spend time sitting in front of the TV or behind a monitor screen. Stress, along with excess weight, can also cause increased lipid levels, and this affects men much more often, because they get irritated for any reason much faster. By the way, some immunosuppressants, such as cyclosporine, can also negatively affect the biochemical parameters of the blood and increase some lipid components of a man. If this drug is prescribed for the treatment of stress by a doctor, then you should inform him about the changes that it caused.

There are other reasons for elevated triglycerides in men, and most often this concerns those who like to quickly gain muscle mass. Thus, the use of androgens and corticosteroids, once popular among male bodybuilding fans, leads to a dangerous increase in the content of this component of the blood plasma. Stopping the drug is the main treatment and improvement of the situation with blood lipid components.

If cholesterol is normal but triglycerides are increased

Doctors do not see this situation very often, since triglycerides increase in parallel with other fatty components of the blood, which also turn out to be elevated. If cholesterol is normal and triglycerides are elevated, the reasons should be sought in the actions that the person carried out most recently. Very often this situation happens on the second or third day of the diet, when cholesterol actually decreases, but elevated triglyceride levels are less sensitive to such rapid changes. As the main treatment measure, you can suggest a consultation with a nutritionist who will tell you the basic rules for following a diet.

The results of tests when donating blood on an empty stomach, where only the triglyceride content is increased, indicate that the reason for the patient’s poor health lies in problems with the spleen and liver. This may mean that these organs are enlarged, and treatment in this case will be lengthy.

Also, while cholesterol levels are normal, triglycerides may be elevated in the case of systemic diseases such as diabetes. Due to impaired glucose tolerance, triglyceride levels are constantly high. Managing diabetes takes a lifetime for many people.

The reason for the increased level of triglycerides may also be due to excessive work of the adrenal cortex, as well as pancreatitis and hyperchylomicronemia. Tests of patients with alcoholism, nephrotic syndrome or hypothyroidism will also show constantly elevated triglyceride levels, but cholesterol levels will be normal. Treatment in this case will involve taking special medications.

In all these situations, a discrepancy between the level of triglycerides and cholesterol may mean the need for additional research to establish the true cause of the current clinical picture, and only then the doctor should give professional recommendations on how to treat it.

Symptoms of elevated triglycerides

The symptoms will closely resemble the typical clinical picture of an obese person. This includes increased blood pressure for no reason, instability of blood sugar, and decreased levels of high-density lipoproteins (“good” cholesterol). By the way, frequent insulin resistance can also be a symptom, which makes it possible to dismiss diabetes as the only disease occurring in the body.

High blood pressure for no reason can also be a symptom of an imbalance in the biochemical balance of the blood, in particular the level of triglycerides. It is important to understand that elevated triglyceride levels lead to increased blood viscosity. The plasma becomes very viscous, and this creates a number of problems. Blood can no longer flow quickly through the bloodstream, which is why pressure increases. Hemoglobin cannot freely deliver oxygen to blood cells, which is why they are nourished worse and cannot function fully. All this greatly affects a person’s well-being. Fatigue for no reason, lethargy, feeling unwell - all of these can be symptoms of dangerously high triglyceride levels and indicate the need for immediate treatment.

How to lower triglycerides

If a blood biochemistry test shows an increase in blood lipid components and a person has already experienced the first unpleasant symptoms, then it is necessary to take active action to reduce triglyceride levels and prevent numerous complications that can arise from inaction.

Follow a diet

You need to watch your diet. This does not mean that you need to limit yourself in everything and reduce caloric intake to a critical level. Fats are just as necessary for the body as carbohydrates and proteins, as well as vitamins and microelements. It is only important to reduce the amount of high-calorie food, and also to correctly evaluate all food in terms of its nutritional value, and not just calorie content, and this is the essence of the diet. So, most of the incoming fats must not only be reduced, but replaced with vegetable oils. This will help create an optimal balance of high-density lipoproteins, which help in the fight to reduce cholesterol and triglycerides. It is important to remember that vegetable fats are much higher in calories than animal fats, and therefore the amount taken with food must be reduced.

Also, when following a diet, you should reduce the amount of sugar you take, since it does not help reduce elevated triglyceride levels and even provokes their increase. Most people know that the human brain and liver are powered by glucose, but it is also produced from complex carbohydrates, which are broken down gradually in the body. Experts do not talk about completely eliminating simple sugar from the diet, but reducing its amount is quite possible. By the way, many products contain hidden sugar, as stated on the packaging. This includes ketchup, yogurt, mayonnaise, some alcoholic drinks and even bread. Many of these products market themselves as healthy foods when they really are not. Of course, it is better to reduce the consumption of these products or completely eliminate them from your diet.

Rejection of bad habits

Alcohol is a source of extra “empty” calories that provide no nutritional value. Moreover, alcohol often destroys a person’s life, his family and professional sphere. This subsequently leads to frequent stressful situations, which does not have a positive effect on the state of the body. With a high degree of probability, a biochemistry test will show an increased level of triglycerides. Reducing the amount of alcohol you drink means improving your life in all respects. The same can be said about nicotine.

Despite the fact that this habit does not lead to an increase in total calories, the components of cigarette smoke nevertheless affect the composition of blood plasma. Cigarettes help thicken the blood and increase its density, which means an increased concentration of triglycerides is almost inevitable. You can reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke per day gradually, or you can do it in one day. In this case, it is better to seek the help of a specialist so as not to return to the starting point after a few weeks, when the number of cigarettes smoked has been reduced and brought to a minimum.

Physical activity

It is difficult to list the diseases that you can get rid of if you regularly engage in physical exercise. Nobody talks about setting running or cycling records on the first day. Physical activity can even mean dancing, which also improves your mood, and two problems have already been solved - stress and elevated triglycerides. If for some reason it is impossible to fit into a gym, then you can simply start walking more.

For example, in the first week you can leave one stop earlier than required, and walk the remaining distance to work. Next week you need to get off public transport even earlier, and so on. Very soon a person will begin to feel lightness throughout his whole body, and even an extra couple of kilometers will seem like a short walk, thanks to which his mood will improve, his whole body will become toned, and a healthy glow will appear on his face. The reflection of a person’s appearance will be fully consistent with the improvements in biochemical blood analysis that will soon occur, which means that it will be possible to forget about problems in blood analysis. Once elevated triglyceride levels return to normal, it is important to continue to live an active life and do everything possible to stay in shape. This should now become the norm, because this is the only way to stay healthy in the modern world.

Drug treatment

Medications can only be used under the strict supervision of a physician. The main drugs designed to lower elevated triglyceride levels are fenofibrate and gemfibrozil. Both of these drugs belong to the group of fibrates, which are essentially carboxylic acids that have the ability to attract fat and water molecules. Another effect of fibrates is the ability to reduce the liver's production of components that transport triglycerides. It is important to know that fibrates are not completely safe. In some cases, they provoke the formation of gallstones and cause digestive upset. When used together with statins, they can cause muscle damage. They should not be taken together with blood thinners.

A special type of carboxylic acid is nicotinic acid, known as vitamin PP. Taking it helps reduce triglycerides in the blood. Its additional property is the ability to increase the content of “good” lipid particles in the blood. Side effects when taking it are extremely rare, but you should be aware of them: dizziness, difficulty breathing, yellowness of the face.

Statins are powerful drugs that help reduce the level of all types of lipoproteins in the blood plasma. The main property of this drug is the ability to lower cholesterol levels, and the normalization of triglyceride levels is only a positive side effect. Meanwhile, statins increase the risk of diabetes and can cause liver problems. Statins should only be taken under the supervision of a physician. Some people have to take drugs from this group for the rest of their lives.

Finally, another group of drugs that help reduce elevated triglyceride levels in the blood is omega-3. This component was first isolated from fish, and it is marine inhabitants that contain it in the greatest quantities. Unfortunately, fish consumption is not so popular in some countries, and therefore one should not be surprised by public health problems. On sale, omega-3 is most often found in the form of capsules with a gelatin shell. Thanks to this shell, the capsule has no taste or smell, which is especially important for those who do not like fish. The breakdown of the capsule occurs in the stomach, from where omega-3 enters the blood and helps reduce elevated triglyceride levels. Omega-3 is not considered an independent drug, but this does not mean that the effect of its use should not be underestimated. Sometimes only this remedy can significantly reduce blood lipid components, and generally improve the results of blood biochemistry tests. In addition, omega-3 contains a valuable element - iodine, and hypothyroidism is a disease that often goes along with elevated triglycerides. In this way, the patient solves two problems at once to improve his physical condition.

Several traditional medicine recipes

Juice therapy

To reduce blood lipid components, traditional medicine experts say that juice therapy is excellent in lowering blood lipids. To do this, it is recommended to drink juices, especially vegetable juices. Fruit juices contain too much fructose, which quickly transforms into glucose and increases sugar levels in the body. Even when eating fruit, this does not happen, because in this form the product has not yet been cleared of fiber.

So, beetroot juice is great for reducing high triglyceride levels. It should be drunk in small sips 2 times a day, 100 ml before meals. This should be done for two weeks. The tests after such a popular recipe will be stunning, and this is without the use of drugs. In addition, lowering lipid components in this way means providing yourself with vitamins and microelements. Immediately after squeezing, you should not drink beet juice; you need to let it sit for 20-30 minutes so that the essential oils, of which there is a huge amount in beet juice, lose their aggressiveness and become less active. Lemon juice is also used for juice therapy. You need to combine the juice of half a lemon with 0.5 liter of hot water and let it brew for 10 minutes. You need to drink this mixture in small sips between meals, 2-3 times a day. It can also be made and used as a salad dressing, allowing you to discreetly reduce your fat intake.

Infusions

Herbal medicine has enormous potential and a large number of traditional medicine recipes that can be used by anyone who suffers from high triglyceride levels. Experts say that herbs can completely replace drugs created in the laboratory. To prepare the infusion, you need to take 20 g of yarrow flowers, 5 g of arnica flowers and 25 g of St. John's wort flowers. All ingredients are mixed and poured with a glass of boiling water. To obtain a strong infusion, the collection must be infused for at least an hour. Then the infusion must be filtered. You need to make this infusion for a day, and then prepare a new one. It is important not to drink it like a regular liquid, but to retain it in the mouth, which promotes rapid absorption into the blood. The course of treatment to lower blood lipid levels is one month. If, after the course, triglycerides are still elevated, then the treatment can be repeated again, after a month. Another simple and inexpensive infusion consists of the simplest components, or rather, from the cores that people usually throw away. To prepare it, you need to pour boiling water over the skins of tangerines, oranges and lemons (in different combinations), let it brew for 2-3 hours, and then drink this infusion throughout the day. This recipe allows you to reduce triglyceride levels in any season, because citrus fruits can always be found on sale.

Sea buckthorn oil

Herbalists note that regular use can significantly improve various indicators of blood biochemistry analysis. Sea buckthorn oil can lower elevated triglyceride levels very gently and almost imperceptibly for humans. It is recommended to take the oil 3 times a day, one teaspoon half an hour before meals. The course of such treatment is one month.

Oats

Pour two tablespoons of natural oats (not rolled oats!) into a glass of water. The cereal must be allowed to brew overnight. The next day you need to drink this water periodically between meals. Traditional medicine experts say that this recipe allows you to remove excess sugar from the blood plasma, as well as regulate cholesterol and triglycerides.

Example of a daily diet

Breakfast. It is the same for all days, as it provides the necessary amount of energy and calories to start your day. So, breakfast consists of:

• 1 cup low-fat milk (200 ml);
• unsweetened coffee (ml);
• 40 g of bread with bran.

• bean and barley soup, steamed cauliflower, unsweetened fruit;
• 70 g (the norm is given for a dry product) durum wheat pasta, 2 baked sardines, unsweetened fruit, a portion of boiled spinach;
• 70 g unpolished rice, arugula, 100 g low-fat goat cheese, unsweetened fruit;
• 70 g barley (in the form of porridge), arugula salad, 150 g roast beef, unsweetened fruit;
• soup with vegetables and wheat, 1 carrot, 200 g of boiled sturgeon, unsweetened fruit;
• brown rice, unsweetened fruit, vegetable salad;
• 70 g durum pasta, 2 baked sardines, baked peppers, seasoned with olive oil, parsley and lemon juice.

• 200 g grilled salmon fillet, a piece of bread with cereals, salad with arugula, unsweetened fruit;
• green bean salad, 2 eggs and tomatoes, a piece of bread with cereals, unsweetened fruit;
• 100 g low-fat goat cheese, 200 g tomatoes, a piece of bread with cereals;
• 60 g (standard for dry product) boiled chickpeas, 2 boiled radishes, a piece of bread with cereals, unsweetened fruit;
• 200 g of baked mackerel, vegetable salad, a piece of bread with cereals, unsweetened fruit;
• 100 g lean pork, 200 g boiled beets, a piece of bread with cereals, unsweetened fruit;
• 150 g grilled turkey breast, vegetable salad, a piece of bread with vegetables, unsweetened fruit.

All salads can be dressed with a mixture of olive oil, balsamic vinegar and lemon juice, which also helps reduce blood fat components. As a snack, it is better to use baked vegetables or fruits, among which you cannot choose starchy ones. The diet is designed for two weeks, after which the norm of some products can be increased.

For the most part, lipid metabolism is disturbed in middle-aged and older people, but in some cases, the presence of elevated triglyceride levels has been observed in a child since childhood. This is most often associated with high body weight, but may also indicate problems with the thyroid gland. Elevated triglyceride levels are also seen in Down syndrome. If this biochemical component is overestimated, the child must adhere to a diet that should satisfy all the needs of the growing body, but at the same time not contribute to the increase in fat mass. If the diet does not produce results, then from the age of 10 the child can be prescribed statins, initially with very small doses. And of course, parents will have to instill in such a child the desire for a healthy lifestyle and constant monitoring of their body weight.

People who want to stay healthy should not only monitor blood pressure and cholesterol levels, but also control triglycerides (TG). Exceeding the norm of these lipids increases the risk of metabolic syndrome and heart muscle diseases.

What are triglycerides in a biochemical blood test?

Triglyceride or trig is a type of fat that the human body obtains from food, converting calories into energy. High triglycerides are not necessarily an indicator of heart disease, but they can reduce blood flow to the core muscle, causing serious health problems. People with excess cholesterol often have high TG levels. Testing triglycerides in a biochemical blood test is carried out together with the lipid spectrum. This survey determines:

• total cholesterol level;
• LDL ( bad cholesterol);
• HDL (good cholesterol).

What do triglycerides show in a blood test?

Checking the levels of fats inside the veins and arteries is part of a lipid profile that determines the presence of heart disease. Triglycerides in a blood test show the possibility of developing hypertension, coronary disease heart, myocardial infarction, etc. For adults, the procedure is recommended every 4-6 years. Children should be tested once before age 10 to determine whether congenital anomalies.

Normal triglycerides

The concentration of lipids in the blood depends on the age, gender and even height of a person. A 9-hour fast is recommended before taking the test. During this period, you can only drink water at room temperature. Sometimes you need to stop taking certain medications, including ascorbic acid. The test results are classified in the following table:

	Adults,	Children and adolescents, (mmol/l)	Breastfed infants, (mmol/l)
normal triglycerides
slightly exceeded
extremely high

Causes of increased triglycerides in the blood

Triglycerides are elevated - what does this mean? This fact may be caused various diseases. These include:

• obesity;
• diabetes;
• atherosclerosis;
• hypothyroidism;
• kidney disease;
• hereditary disorders lipid balance.

There are other reasons for increased triglycerides in the blood:

• binge eating;
• frequent use alcohol;
• wrong lifestyle;
• taking medications such as corticosteroids, beta blockers, oral contraceptives.

What does elevated triglycerides mean?

An increase in lipids may be a sign of the diseases described above. Often a person may not realize they are at risk until will undergo examination. Elevated triglycerides mean that the patient must follow a diet that will help normalize his blood and lower cholesterol. This also indicates that there is a risk of cardiovascular diseases, liver cirrhosis and hepatitis.

Elevated blood triglycerides in men

In the stronger sex, the TG level is always slightly higher than in the weaker sex. Elevated triglycerides in the blood in men can occur due to smoking, constant drinking, overeating, and frequent stress. After receiving the test results, you should definitely consult a doctor and undergo a course of treatment.

Elevated triglycerides in women

When it comes to high lipid levels, women are at greater risk than men. Elevated triglycerides in women can occur:

• while taking birth control pills that include the hormone estrogen;
• during pregnancy;
• with polycystic ovary syndrome;
• during menopause;
• for hormonal disorders;
• infertility.

Triglycerides are elevated during pregnancy

An increase in the number of lipids in the mother's blood during fetal development is not uncommon. Many pregnant women have increased cholesterol levels during this period, and this is normal, which cannot be said about triglycerides. The expectant mother will have to reduce the consumption of foods rich in TG in order for the indicators to be normal. If triglycerides are elevated during pregnancy, this does not mean that the development of the fetus is abnormal. Often the reason for this test result is simple overeating or changes in hormonal levels.

Triglycerides are elevated in a child

What does an increase in triglycerides mean? The most common reasons are presented below:

• obesity and excess weight;
• poor nutrition;
• consumption of unhealthy foods (chips, fast food, sweets);
• hereditary genetic abnormalities.

When triglycerides are elevated in a child, the problem becomes more difficult to solve. It can be difficult for children to explain why their parents deny them the usual things. You should force your child or teenager to eat healthy food, take fish oil. Parents will have to closely monitor the child’s diet and physical activity. In addition, you should consult a doctor and conduct a comprehensive examination of the body.

Treatment of elevated triglycerides

The best way get rid of triglyceridemia - stick to it healthy image life. If your blood triglycerides are elevated, you can lower them by following these steps:

1. You need to exercise regularly, give your body physical activity.
2. It is worth sticking to a diet: limiting the consumption of unhealthy fats, eating foods rich in fiber.
3. You should give up alcohol.
4. Quit smoking.

Treatment for elevated triglycerides does not end there. Sometimes you need to take the following medications:

• statins (they are also prescribed for high levels of ldl in the blood);
• nicotinic acid;
• fibrates (cannot be taken together with statins).

Diet for high blood triglycerides

The right diet nutrition is a very significant factor that allows you to quickly reduce cholesterol and TG levels. To begin with, you should reduce your calorie intake to permissible norm. It is better to use all the described methods in combination to get rid of the risk of heart disease. A diet for elevated blood triglycerides includes the following foods:

• whole grain cereals;
• vegetables, fruits;
• lean meat in moderation;
• low-fat dairy products;
• polyunsaturated fats (these are omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids found in red fish, linseed oil, nuts);
• monounsaturated fats (avocado, olive oil).

• fatty meat products;
• refined sugar (it is better to use artificial sweeteners);
• flour products;
• legumes;
• alcohol;
• canned food;
• sweets and honey

After a few months of such treatment, TG and cholesterol levels should return to normal. The main evidence of this will be weight loss and improved well-being. However, the patient will have to undergo another examination and have his blood tested. Perhaps the doctor will advise him to continue to follow the diet described above, give the body moderate physical activity, and give up bad habits.

Video: triglyceride analysis