Triglycerides
Triglycerides are fats that circulate in your blood and provide energy. Your body also stores them for later use. A blood test measures how much is circulating when the sample is taken.
What does a high triglyceride result mean?
High triglycerides can accompany increased heart risk. Very high levels also raise the risk of pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas. Meals, alcohol and blood sugar can affect the result, so the testing conditions matter.
Clinical categories for a fasting adult sample
- Below the elevated threshold
- Below 150 mg/dL (1.7 mmol/L)
- Borderline high
- 150–199 mg/dL (about 1.7–2.2 mmol/L)
- High
- 200–499 mg/dL (about 2.3–5.6 mmol/L)
- Very high
- 500 mg/dL or more (about 5.7 mmol/L or more)
These commonly used clinical categories help guide follow-up. They are not a lab-specific reference interval or a diagnosis. Non-fasting results need different context.
Sources: MedlinePlus (NIH)
What can change this result?
What can raise them
- Alcohol and frequently having sugary drinks or large portions of refined carbs.
- Regularly eating more energy than your body uses.
- Blood sugar that is not well controlled, some medicines or inherited conditions.
What can help lower them
- Cutting back on alcohol and choosing drinks without added sugar.
- Regular activity and gradual weight loss if you have excess weight.
- Managing diabetes and taking triglyceride-lowering medicine if prescribed.
A recent meal can raise triglycerides. Follow the fasting instructions for your test; very high results may need treatment beyond lifestyle changes.
What should I do next?
- Check whether the sample was fasting and ask whether it needs repeating.
- If the result is 500 mg/dL or higher, contact your clinician promptly to discuss treatment.
- Review alcohol, sugary drinks and diabetes management with your clinician. Severe abdominal pain with vomiting needs urgent assessment.
How this test works
Triglycerides travel inside fat-carrying particles. Their levels change as your body absorbs, stores and uses energy. This is why a fasting measurement and a result taken after eating may differ.