Triglycerides

Track Triglycerides levels for cardiovascular health and fat metabolism assessment. Learn about lipid monitoring for wellness.

TRIG · mg/dL mmol/L · aka TG, TRIGS, TRIGLYCERIDE

What are Triglycerides?

Triglycerides are the most common type of fat in your blood, formed when your body converts excess calories into fat for storage. They’re transported in lipoproteins and serve as an important energy source, but elevated levels increase cardiovascular disease risk.

Why is it Tested?

Doctors measure triglycerides as part of lipid panels to assess cardiovascular risk and metabolic health. High triglycerides often accompany insulin resistance, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome, making this test valuable for comprehensive metabolic assessment.

Normal Ranges

National guidelines for triglyceride levels:

  • Normal: <150 mg/dL
  • Borderline high: 150–199 mg/dL
  • High: 200–499 mg/dL
  • Very high: ≥500 mg/dL

Fasting for 9–12 hours is required for accurate triglyceride measurement.

Reference ranges vary by authority. Track yours across multiple standards with automatic unit conversions in LabsVault.

What do Abnormal Results Mean?

Abnormal results are not a diagnosis. Always discuss your results with a qualified healthcare provider before making any medical decisions.

Low Triglycerides

Unusually low levels may indicate:

  • Malnutrition or malabsorption
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Some medications
  • Genetic conditions

High Triglycerides

Elevated levels suggest:

  • Increased cardiovascular disease risk
  • Insulin resistance or diabetes
  • Metabolic syndrome
  • Excessive carbohydrate or alcohol intake
  • Obesity
  • Hypothyroidism

How to Track Over Time

Triglyceride levels respond quickly to dietary and lifestyle changes, making them useful for monitoring intervention effectiveness. Tracking trends alongside other lipid markers provides insight into overall metabolic health and cardiovascular risk progression.

Track your Triglycerides results over time

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