Triglycerides
Also reported as: TG · Trigs
Circulating fat available for energy or storage, carried mainly on VLDL particles.
Under 150 mg/dL is the standard normal cut-off.
Metabolic-health convention. The triglyceride-to-HDL ratio is often more informative than either number alone — under 2.0 (mg/dL units) suggests good insulin sensitivity.
Guideline thresholds from: NCEP ATP III for the 150 mg/dL threshold
To convert to mmol/L, multiply by 0.01129.
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Where the thresholds sit
| Band | Range (mg/dL) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Optimal | < 80 | — |
| Normal | 80–150 | — |
| Borderline high | 150–200 | — |
| High | 200–500 | — |
| Very high | > 500 | Pancreatitis risk — needs medical attention. |
Why it matters
Less a direct cause of arterial disease than a sensitive read-out of metabolic health. Fasting triglycerides climb early in insulin resistance, often years before fasting glucose moves, which makes them one of the most useful early-warning numbers on a routine panel.
What raises it
- Refined carbohydrate and fructose intake
- Alcohol, disproportionately
- Insulin resistance and visceral fat
- Recent eating — this is the most fasting-sensitive marker on the panel
- Untreated hypothyroidism
What lowers it
- Carbohydrate restriction
- Omega-3 fatty acids at 2–4 g/day EPA+DHA
- Aerobic exercise, acutely and chronically
- Weight loss
- Fibrates, where clinically indicated
How to move it
- 1Fast properly before the test — 12 hours, water only. A non-fasting sample can read 30–50% higher.
- 2Cut alcohol for two weeks and retest. In heavy drinkers this alone can halve the number.
- 3Reduce refined carbohydrate and added sugar before touching dietary fat.
- 4Add 2 g/day of combined EPA and DHA.
- 5Two or three aerobic sessions a week lowers it independently of weight change.
What moves this marker
Interventions on this site with evidence behind them for this specific marker. None of them replaces working out why yours is where it is.
What makes a single reading misleading
- Highly variable day to day — up to 25% between readings in the same person.
- A single high reading after a poor night's sleep or a late meal means little.
Sources
Read next
Educational only. Reference ranges are not diagnostic thresholds and this page cannot account for your medical history, medication or symptoms. Discuss any result that concerns you with a qualified clinician. See our medical disclaimer.