AMR-01-01-0017

What is hypertriglyceridemia?

Hypertriglyceridemia may be described as an excess of triglycerides in the blood. Triglycerides are fatty substances in your blood and body that get their name from their chemical structure.

Your liver produces triglycerides. Any extra calories in your diet can be changed into triglycerides. These triglycerides may also be changed into cholesterol.

The food that you consume in your diet is either used or stored. When you eat, the fat in your food is digested, and triglycerides are released into your bloodstream. This will give you energy to perform activities, or just to perform any vital functions. The rest will be stored as fat.

Although trigylceride levels vary with age, a "normal" level is considered less than 150 mg/dL. Normal values may vary from laboratory to laboratory.

What are some symptoms of hypertriglyceridemia to look for?

There are often times no symptoms of hypertriglyceridemia, unless you develop pancreatitis from your elevated triglyceride levels.

Causes of hypertriglyceridemia may include:

· Age - your triglyceride levels will increase with age.

· Weight gain- People who are extremely overweight (obese), will have more calories converted into cholesterol and triglycerides. Excess calories from alcohol will also cause your liver to make more triglycerides, which in turn causes less fat to be removed from your blood stream.

· If you have liver or kidney disease, or metabolic conditions such as hypothyroidism or diabetes, you will be placed at risk for hypertriglyceridemia.

· Genetics - Increased triglyceride levels in the blood may be associated with certain genetic diseases or disorders, such as familial combined hyperlipidemia.

· Medications -such as oral contraceptives, and certain steroids, may cause increased triglyceride levels.

· Elevated triglyceride levels may lead to pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas. However, there are some individuals that may never develop pancreatitis with high triglyceride levels, or some may develop pancreatitis with lower levels.

· Your doctor or healthcare provider will diagnose your disorder by a simple blood test. You must fast for 12 hours before the blood test, as any food that you eat may affect the result.