What Causes Triglycerides to Be High?

Triglycerides are a fat-like substance in the blood the body uses for energy. The body needs triglycerides, but too much of them can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, pancreatitis, and other health problems.

Triglycerides are a fat-like substance in the blood the body uses for energy. The body needs some triglycerides but too much of them can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, pancreatitis, and other health problems.

High triglycerides often don’t cause any symptoms.

When high triglycerides are caused by a genetic condition, fatty deposits under the skin (xanthomas) may occur. 

Very high triglyceride levels (above 1000 mg/dL) may cause pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), which can cause severe constant pain in the upper part of the abdomen.

High triglycerides are caused by some medical conditions, lifestyle habits, and certain medications.

Medical conditions that can cause high triglycerides include: 

• Overweight/obesity
• Poorly controlled diabetes
• Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
• Liver disease
• Kidney disease
• Pregnancy
• Low vitamin D
• Certain chronic inflammatory conditions
  • Arthritis
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus
  • Psoriasis
• Untreated gum disease (periodontitis) 
• Rare genetic disorders
  • Familial dysbetalipoproteinemia 
  • Familial chylomicronemia
  • Primary mixed hyperlipidemia 
• Lifestyle habits that can cause high triglycerides include: 
  • Sedentary lifestyle
  • Regularly eating foods high in fat and sugar 
  • Regularly eating more calories than you burn
  • Excessive alcohol intake
  • Smoking
• Certain medications that can cause high triglycerides include: 
  • Beta-blockers
  • Birth control pills
  • Diuretics (water pills)
  • Estrogen
  • Steroids
  • Tamoxifen
  • Antiretrovirals 
  • Retinoids 
  • Some antipsychotics

High triglycerides can also have a genetic cause and run in families.

High triglycerides are diagnosed with a blood test called a lipid panel that measures total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in the blood. The table below tells you what your measurements may indicate for your triglyceride levels.

Triglycerides may be lowered in some cases by making lifestyle changes, such as: 

• Losing weight if you are overweight
• Getting regular exercise
• Increasing fiber in the diet
• Adding more omega-3 fatty acids to the diet
  • Foods high in omega 3’s include: 
    • Dark, leafy green vegetables
    • Fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel
    • Soy and legumes
    • Walnuts
    • Ground flax seed 
• Limiting or avoiding alcohol 
• Avoiding foods and drinks high in sugar and carbohydrates 
• Avoiding red meat, fried foods, cheese, butter, oils, and nuts, especially in patients who have triglycerides over 500
• Managing diabetes 

Dietary changes such as avoiding sugars, refined carbohydrates, and alcohol, along with adding more omega-3 fatty acids to the diet may lower triglycerides more quickly. 

High triglycerides may also be treated with medications, such as:

• Medicines to lower triglyceride levels 
  • Fibrates
    • Fenofibrate (Antara, Fenoglide, Tricor)
    • Gemfibrozil (Lopid)
  • Nicotinic acid (Niacor, Niaspan)
  • Fish oil (Lovaza)
• Statins
  • Atorvastatin (Lipitor)
  • Fluvastatin (Lescol)
  • Lovastatin (Mevacor)
  • Pravastatin (Pravachol)
  • Rosuvastatin (Crestor)
  • Simvastatin (Zocor)