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Why Is Triglyceride Important In Heart Disease Prevention? Triglyceride is the most common type of fat in the body. In fact, almost all the excess calories a person consumes, whether getting them from eating fats or consuming carbohydrates, are converted to triglycerides and stored in the fatty tissues. They are usually stored in the hips or belly. When more energy is needed between meals, the body’s hormones releases triglycerides. While triglycerides and cholesterol both belong to the fat family (also called lipids), they have different functions. But why is it important to include it in the cholesterol test (also known as lipid profile or lipid panel)? By definition, total cholesterol score is calculated using the equation: HDL (high-density lipoprotein) level + LDL (low-density lipoprotein) level + 20 percent of the triglyceride level. This is because elevated triglyceride levels raise the risk of developing atherosclerosis (buildup of fatty plaques on artery walls), and elevated risk of heart disease and stroke. Focus is mainly placed on cholesterol levels when talking about heart disease and stroke prevention. The relationship between triglyceride blood levels and the risk of heart disease has been less obvious. However, studies have now indicated that there is a clear link between elevated triglyceride levels (a condition known as hypertriglyceridemia) and elevated cardiovascular risk, in both men and women. Moreover, people who have both coronary artery disease (CAD) and elevated triglycerides have a higher risk of premature death than people with CAD and normal triglyceride levels.
Meanwhile, high triglyceride levels are also
strongly associated with other significant lipid abnormalities, including low
HDL cholesterol levels, small, dense LDL particles, and insulin resistance.
Insulin resistance is the underlying cause for Type-2 diabetes, which can lead
to hypertension (high blood pressure). High triglyceride levels are, therefore,
most often seen in people who have a very high-risk metabolic profile.
People with high levels of triglyceride are more likely to have high LDL levels. When plaque builds up in the arteries, artery walls can harden or become thick, which is called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and heart disease. Women are especially at risk of heart disease if they have high triglyceride levels, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Extremely high triglyceride levels can also lead to acute pancreatitis. Elevated triglyceride levels can most commonly be found among people who are overweight and sedentary, and who have a tendency toward insulin resistance or overt Type-2 diabetes. Other conditions associated with high triglyceride levels include hypothyroidism; kidney conditions, especially nephrotic syndrome; pregnancy; medications, including estrogen replacement, tamoxifen, and some beta blockers. In addition, genetic conditions can also cause elevated triglyceride blood levels. A paper published in 2007 in journal ‘Annals of Internal Medicine’ reported that young men with the highest triglyceride levels had a 4 times greater risk of developing heart disease or having a stroke than similarly aged patients with the lowest triglyceride levels. Recent study published August 15, 2019 in journal ‘Cardiovascular Diabetology’, Chinese researchers found that though elevated triglyceride level cannot serve as an independent marker for an increased risk of cardiovascular events in Type-2 diabetes patients, but still, the higher serum triglyceride levels tend to link to increased risks of cardiovascular disease. The researchers reviewed a total of 31 studies that involved 132,044 Type-2 diabetes patients with 10,733 incident cardiovascular events. Anyway, as suggested by the American Heart Association (AHA), more research is still required to ascertain that high triglyceride levels are an independent risk for heart disease and other diseases. Individuals with high triglyceride levels can see a reduction by as much as 50 percent if they change their lifestyle, including lose excess weight, exercise, eat fish instead of steak, and limit alcohol intake. For those who are overweight, losing 5 to 10 percent of the body weight may lower the triglycerides as much as 20 percent. Eating fish such as tuna and salmon that are high in omega-3 fatty acid can help reduce high triglyceride levels, too. Should lifestyle changes fail to control high triglycerides, the doctor may recommend medications such as statins, niacin, fibrates and prescription fish oil preparations like Lovaza. Date: March 12, 2020
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