Consequences Of Low Hdl High Triglycerides
Cholesterol gets deposited easily in the blood vessels of these patients and the build-up of cholesterol cannot be cleansed out efficiently due to low level of HDL cholesterol. Consequently, these patients are at very high risk for narrowing of the blood vessels.
HDL cholesterol and triglyceride level serves as an extremely useful test to diagnose Insulin Resistance Syndrome. If your HDL is low and/or your triglyceride level is high, you have Insulin Resistance Syndrome.
Low HDL cholesterol has been known to be a strong risk factor for coronary artery disease for a long time. In 1977, the results of the famous Framingham Heart Study were published in the American Journal of Medicine. In this study, HDL cholesterol was found to be the most potent lipid predictor of coronary heart disease.
Several other studies including the Coronary Primary Prevention Trial , the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial , and the Lipid Research Clinics Follow-up Study further confirmed the strong relationship between low HDL cholesterol and coronary artery disease.
Raising HDL cholesterol reduces the risk for heart attack. A 1% increase in HDL cholesterol is associated with a 3% decrease in risk of heart disease. This impressive role of HDL cholesterol in preventing heart attack was shown in the famous Veterans Affairs HDL Intervention Trial . The results of this study were published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1999.
How Do Triglyceride Levels Compare With Cholesterol Levels
If you have high triglycerides, you are more likely to also have high total cholesterol and high bad cholesterol levels. Many people with high triglycerides also have low good cholesterol levels.
Both triglycerides and cholesterol are measured in mg/dL. However, the guidelines differ for what normal levels are for each of them.
What Abnormal Results Mean
High triglyceride levels may be due to:
- Other medicines, such as female hormones
- Poorly controlled diabetes
- Disorder passed down through families in which there are high amounts of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood
Overall, the treatment of elevated triglyceride levels focuses on increased exercise and changes in the diet. Drugs to lower triglyceride levels may be used to prevent pancreatitis for levels above 500 mg/dL.
Low triglyceride levels may be due to:
Pregnancy can affect test results.
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Prevention Of High Cholesterol
Regularly monitoring your cholesterol levels can also help prevent your numbers from getting too high or low. In general, healthy adults should check their cholesterol every four to six years, but your doctor may ask to check your cholesterol more often depending on your age, overall health, and other risk factors. There are other ways to prevent high cholesterol, too
More Important Than Ldl The Triglyceride/hdl Ratio
by Ford Brewer | Sep 11, 2020 | Plaque, Prediabetes & Diabetes
There are few things that humble me more than my complete and utter buffoonery when it comes to HDL lipidology Peter Attia
Its true of all of us. Thomas Dayspring
Thomas Dayspring is a nationally recognized lipidologist. That means hes an expert on cholesterol, fat, and oil metabolism. And Peter Attia is no slouch in this area. If youd like to spend a few hours hearing cutting-edge concepts in this area, try listening to episodes 20-24 of Attias podcast THE DRIVE.
But be warned that video is very technical. Less than 600 people have started even one of these podcasts. We can only guess how many finished the full 5 hours. I did.
Some information wasnt that new. For example, Attia and Dayspring mentioned that the Framingham study indicates that TG/HDL is 5 times more predictive of heart attack risk than LDL.
They also mentioned that lipoprotein particles pass both cholesterol and fatty acids around like hot potatoes. A few of their concepts also seemed to contradict some basics mentioned later in this article.
Why would I focus this article on such simple concepts?
Because the basics of triglycerides and HDL are critical to health. But the complicated version just isnt understandable, let alone actionable.
I did a simple version of the TG/HDL in a video 3 years ago. It was one of our popular videos.
Many people told me the information saved their lives. Chuck Smith is one of those people.
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How Quickly Can I Lower My Cholesterol
Your cholesterol levels may lower as quickly as a few weeks to a few months, depending on your treatment plan.
If your levels are very high, your healthcare provider may recommend taking medications at the start of your treatment plan. This may help lower your cholesterol levels more quickly. The sooner you can lower your bad cholesterol levels, the sooner you can lower your risk for plaques to form.
You can also lower your cholesterol through lifestyle and diet changes alone, but it may take three to six months to see results. Talk with your healthcare provider to figure out the best treatment plan for you.
Research Design And Methods
We performed a retrospective analysis of the medical charts of patients with T1D at the Hospital Universitario Clementino Fraga Filho, in Rio de Janeiro. All patients signed an informed consent and the protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board. Clinical data, cholesterol, triglycerides, serum glucose and glycated hemoglobin were retrieved. Patients were classified in three groups according to their TG levels: 1) low 2) normal and 3) high TG . None of patients included were engaged in intense physical activity. Chi Square test, Mann Whitney and ANOVA Kruskall Wallis were used to compare groups and Spearman coefficient was used for correlation tests. An alpha < 0.05 was employed and all tests were two-tailed. SPSS 13.0 for Windows was used for statistical analysis.
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What Raises Your Triglycerides The Most
What Foods and Drinks Cause High Triglycerides? Sugary food and drinks, saturated fats, refined grains, alcohol, and high-calorie foods can all lead to high levels of triglycerides. If you have high triglycerides, avoiding these food categories can help bring your levels down.
High Triglycerides: The Latest Recommendations
How To Maintain Optimal Triglyceride Levels
- Exercise for 30-60 minutes 5x/week.
- Lose excess weight by consuming fewer calories.
- Avoid refined carbohydrates and limit added sugars to < 25g/day.
- Limit alcohol consumption to < 1-2 drinks/day.
- Choose healthy fats like those found in nuts, seeds, olive oil, avocados, and salmon.
- Avoid trans fats and limit saturated fat to < 10% of total calories.
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What Should I Eat If My Triglycerides Are High
Foods that can help lower triglycerides all vegetables, especially leafy greens, green beans, and butternut squash. all fruits, especially citrus fruits, and berries. low fat or fat-free dairy products, such as cheese, yogurt, and milk. high-fiber whole grains, such as quinoa, barley, and brown rice.
What Are The Risks Of Having High Triglycerides
High triglyceride levels often go along with high cholesterol and come with the same elevated risk of chronic health problems. In fact, a high triglyceride level is one of the criteria for metabolic syndrome, a combination of health issues that leads to an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
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Causes Of High Triglycerides
In many cases, habitual overeating causes high triglycerides. Occasionally, the trigger is an underlying condition such as:
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Some types of liver disease
- Some types of kidney disease
- Some genetic disorders, including the inherited disease familial hypertriglyceridemia and familial combined hyperlipidemia .
Low Levels Are Usually Protective
It is well known that high triglycerides are dangerous, but little is known about the influence of low levels on health. Studies suggest that in healthy people, low triglyceride levels are beneficial. Low triglycerides are also good for people with diabetes and might also be protective against heart attacks .
One study even suggests that the lower a persons triglycerides are, the less likely they will be to die from any cause. In this study, almost 14k people were followed for 24 years. The scientist found that levels below 89 mg/dL thats almost twice lower than the borderline-normal value of 150 mg/dL were associated with a 41% lower risk of dying than high levels
So can your levels ever be too low to do any harm?
We still dont have any definitive answers, but we can look for some clues.
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What Is The Most Common Cause Of High Triglycerides
A poor diet is by far the most common cause of high triglyceride levels, says Freeman. I consider high triglycerides as a marker that someone may not be eating as well as they should, he says. Excess calories and sugar are turned into triglycerides before being stored as fat, notes Cleveland Clinic.
What Is The Best Treatment For High Triglycerides
If your triglycerides are high, as indicated above, there are many foods to avoid and those to choose in their place.
The American Academy of Family Physicians describes a protocol for doctors to prescribe medicines such as statins and fibrates and prescription-strength niacin and fish oil supplements in extreme cases of high triglycerides.
However, in addition to smoking cessation and the addition of exercise, non-prescription supplements such as Healthy Dad Essentials Stack and Omega 3, can help lower triglyceride levels.
In particular, Revives Natural Lipid Supplement includes medically formulated ingredients that are backed by clinical research and carefully selected to help keep lipid values inside a healthy range.
Your lipid values include not just triglycerides, but cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein , and low-density lipoprotein level as well. If you find yourself asking questions like, is a cholesterol level of 5.7 high? , or knowing that you need to improve your HDL to LDL ratios, this is the formula to turn to.
Read Also: Can Be Avoided By Eating Foods Low In Cholesterol
Low Triglycerides And High Ldl
According to the American Heart Association, triglycerides are fats made in the body from other nutrients such as carbohydrates. If you eat calories that are not used immediately, they are converted into triglycerides and transported to fat cells to be stored.
Because LDL comes from two sources — the foods you eat and heredity — it is possible to have low triglycerides along with high LDL by eating a healthy diet while your body produces high levels of LDL. The American Heart Association says about 75 percent of your total cholesterol is manufactured in your liver and other cells.
What Is The Difference Between Triglycerides And Cholesterol
You might be wondering how triglycerides are different from cholesterol. Both are essential types of fat that our bodies need to function, and they can be made in the body and sourced from our diet. Triglycerides and cholesterol are often lumped in together as part of a blood test called a lipid profile or lipid panel.
There are some important differences between the two.
Triglycerides are one of our main sources of energy. They are either transported to the parts of our body that need energy, or they are stored for use later.
Cholesterol is not a source of energy, but it is an important part of the makeup of our cells. It is one of the building blocks for some of the hormones our bodies make, the bile acids that help us digest food, and vitamin D. The body makes all the cholesterol that it needs.
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Diagnosis Of High Triglycerides
A blood test can reveal whether or not you have high triglycerides. You may need to have two blood tests for accurate results. Dont eat anything for at least 12 hours before each blood test because food particularly fatty food can temporarily boost triglyceride levels in the blood and skew your test results.Triglycerides are measured in mmol/L. The range includes:
- Very high over 6 mmol/L
- High between2 and 6 mmol/L
- Borderline high between 1.7 and 2 mmol/L
- Normal below 1.7 mmol/L
The doctor may also test your cholesterol levels. In many cases, high triglycerides and high cholesterol go hand in hand. This condition is sometimes known as combined hyperlipidemia.
The Effectiveness Of Revive’s Lipid Supplement
One of the ingredients that make Revives Lipid Supplement so effective is the 2 g. per serving of beta-sitosterol. Beta-sitosterol is a phytosterol found naturally in canola oil, avocados, and soybean oil, which prevents cholesterol from being absorbed by the body.
Also included is 1.5 g per serving of citrus bergamot. Research and study shows that bergamot improves triglyceride levels. The next two ingredients are 500 mg each of pantethine and artichoke extract. Pantethine has been shown to lower triglyceride levels in several clinical trials, as has artichoke extract.
Revives formula also contains resveratrol, a compound in red wine known to foster longevity, which also demonstrates an ability to control lipid levels. Finally, each serving contains 100 mg of bilberry fruit extract. Bilberry, high in polyphenols , has been shown to improve hyperlipidemia. Hyperlipidemia is the medical term for extremely high levels of lipids or fat particles, like cholesterol and triglycerides, in the blood.
When taken as suggested, Revives Lipid Supplement may be an effective way to manage blood lipids. It may be one of the easiest ways for you to:
- Maintain optimal HDL to LDL ratios
- Lower triglyceride levels
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Normal Cholesterol With High Triglycerides What Is That
When measuring total cholesterol levels, low-density lipoprotein , high-density lipoprotein , and triglycerides are used in the measurement.
For adults, standard cholesterol levels are:
- Less than 200 mg/dL is desirable
- Between 200 239 mg/dL is considered borderline
- Over 240 mg/dL is considered high
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Is Coffee Bad For Triglycerides
Drinking coffeeespecially unfiltered coffeesignificantly contributes to increased levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol , and triglycerides, researchers have reported. The more coffee consumed, the higher the concentrations of LDL-cholesterol and total cholesterol, they found.
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What Kind Of Medications Treat High Triglycerides
If your triglyceride levels are very high, you may need medication.
Niacin supplements also known as vitamin B3 can help reduce blood triglyceride levels. You can get niacin naturally from meats, avocados, and peanuts among many other foods. Supplements work well, too, if youre worried you may not be getting enough through your diet alone.
For those who dont like to eat fish, packaged omega-3 fatty acids, and even cod liver oil, can come in a capsule and help you get some of the same benefits. Vascepa is an FDA-approved prescription-strength omega-3 fatty acid that you can take if you are 45 or older and have diabetes or cardiovascular disease. It has been shown to reduce triglyceride levels and the risk of heart attack or stroke when exercise, diet, and other medications arent enough.
One of the main types of medication prescribed to treat high triglycerides are called fibrates, including fenofibrate. These medications slow down production of triglycerides and help remove triglycerides from the bloodstream.
What Is The Most Important Number In A Lipid Panel
When we measure cholesterol and blood fats, were really talking about three different numbers: HDL, LDL, and triglycerides. They combine to give you a lipid profile score, but the three individual scores are most important. Here are the numbers to strive for:Total cholesterol of 200 mg/dL or lower.
Also Check: What Should Your Cholesterol Reading Be
Ask The Diva: Can Triglycerides Be Too Low
Very low triglyceride levels can signal health problems. Nutrition Diva explains whether you should worry if your blood test comes back with low triglyceride levels.
Q. The American Heart Association guidelines say that normal triglyceride levels are less than 150 mg/dL. My triglyceride level is 40 mg/dL. Is that too low? If so, how can I raise my levels in a healthy way?
A. Very low triglyceride levels can signal problems. Diets that dont contain enough fat, for example, can cause triglyceride levels to dip dangerously low. There are also some medical problems that can cause abnormally low triglycerides, such as an inability to absorb fats or hyperthyroidism. But a triglyceride level of 40 is considered perfectly normalideal, in fact! Although levels up to 150mg/dL are within the normal range, the AHA recommends that we aim for triglyceride levels below 100.
If your levels had been a concern, either on their own or in view of other test results or symptoms, Im sure your doctor would have ordered follow up tests to rule out any other problems. And, of course, if you have any lingering worries, you should check in with her! But in and of itself, a triglyceride reading of 40 isnt anything to worry about. Its something to crow about!
Which Medicines Can Lower Triglycerides
For some people, good habits may not be enough. Medication might be needed. The decision for you and your doctor can be complicated because other health conditions are usually involved. Several types of medicine can improve levels. They include:
- High doses of omega-3s are needed to lower triglycerides and should be taken only under a doctor’s care. Epanova, Lovaza, and Vascepa are prescription forms of omega-3s.
Your doctor may also prescribe a class of drugs called âstatinsâ that lower cholesterol. Examples include: atorvastatin , rosuvastatin , and simvastatin .
You may feel side effects from these drugs. Be sure to talk it over with your doctor or pharmacist.
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What Do Low Triglyceride Levels Indicate And Can They Be Too Low
In general, having low triglyceride levels is not considered a problem. If your triglyceride levels are less than 150mg/dL, you have a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attack or stroke.
However, if your triglyceride levels are extremely low and less than 40mg/dL, then you may have a medical condition or disease, such as liver problems or inflammation. Your risk of dying from heart failure is also higher if triglycerides are too low.
Other causes of very low triglyceride levels include:
- Very low-fat diets
- Certain rare genetic conditions that affect how your body converts fat to energy