Triglycerides are produced and stored in liver cells and adipose tissues in different parts of the body. Triglycerides are produced by combining fatty acids with glycerol and are stored as lipid drops. Fatty acids produced by the breakdown of triglycerides are used as an energy source. Fatty acids are also sources of carbon atoms for biosynthetic reactions in our body and form acetyl-CoA, which is used in energy production reactions. In summary, triglycerides are the ideal way to store energy.
While triglycerides are taken from the outside, they can also be produced in the liver in our body. In daily foods, triglycerides are taken in much higher amounts than cholesterol. Triglycerides are transported in the blood by forming chylomicrons, which are derivatives of cholesterol. Chylomicrons are mostly transported by lymphatic channels. When chylomicrons encounter lipoprotein lipase enzymes, they are broken down and excreted in the liver. Some of the chylomicron residues are converted back to fatty acids and stored. This cycle repeats depending on the body’s energy needs, nutrition and consumption.
An adult human has about 15 kilograms of triglycerides. For every 1 gram of triglyceride burned, 38 kilojoules (9 Cal) of energy is released. This means that a person with a triglyceride store of 570,000 kilojoules can withstand 3 months of starvation.
Our other important energy source, glycogen stores, is 4200 kilojoules in total. Compared to triglycerides, glycogen creates less energy and is effective in short-term hunger. The major energy source in breast milk is triglycerides.
Those who are overweight, have diabetes or latent diabetes have high triglyceride levels. Eating sugar, drinking alcohol, and eating fatty foods increase triglyceride levels. Having high triglycerides in the blood can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Normal value of triglycerides level:
- Its normal value in blood is 150 mg/dL
- Slightly increased between 150-499 mg/dL
- 500-886 mg/dL is moderately increased and may require drug therapy
- If it is over 1000 mg/Dl, it is very high and emergency treatment should be intervened.
It does not show many symptoms until triglyceride values rise above 1000 mg/dl. Usually acute pancreatitis occurs at very high triglyceride levels.
Triglyceride levels are greatly affected by daily activities. The drugs used can also affect triglyceride levels.
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Drugs that increase triglyceride levels:
- Atypical antipsychotics
- Beta blockers
- Bile acid binders
- Estrogen
- Corticosteroids
- Immunosuppressants
- Isoretinoin
- Protease inhibitors
- Tamoxifen
- Thiazide diuretics
Diseases and conditions that cause high triglyceride levels:
- Obesity
- Metabolic syndrome
- Intake of high-energy or fat-rich food
- Alcohol
- Type II diabetes
- Hypothyroidism
- Kidney parenchymal diseases
- Paraproteinemia
- Pregnancy
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Malignancies
- Rheumatological diseases
- Cushing’s syndrome
Triglycerides are somewhat neglected in coronary heart disease risk assessments, as triglyceride blood levels can vary widely throughout the day. However, high triglyceride levels indirectly bring the risk of coronary disease. High triglyceride levels are especially sensitive for metabolic syndrome evaluations.
There are also genetic diseases that cause high triglyceride levels in the blood (hypertriglyceridemia).
Causes of primary (genetic) hypertriglyceridemia:
- Lipoprotein lipase deficiency
- Apo C II deficiency
- Familial hypertriglyceridemia
- Familial lipoprotein lipase inhibitor
- Familial hepatic lipase deficiency
- Familial Combined Hyperlipidemia (FKH)
- Familial Dysbetalipoproteinemia (Type III Hyperlipoproteinemia)
- Hyperapobetalipoproteinemia