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Understanding High Triglyceride Levels: Impacts, Causes, and Solutions
By Morgan Elmore
April 26th, 2026
Medical review by Maya Feller, MS, RD, CDN
When new patients come to Maya Feller Nutrition, we ask them to share a copy of their most recent blood work to see what nutritional markers might be out of range. This helps the provider develop a personalized plan based on current data. We’ve found that people do not understand the markers and how they impact whole-body health. Let’s break down one of the most common, but maybe not best understood, nutritional lab markers – triglycerides.
Triglycerides will be drawn as part of a lipid panel, meaning they are a type of fat. They are the most common type of fat in your body. Triglycerides come from the food we eat (foods that contain fats) but can also be made in our bodies. When we consume excess calories that our body does not need to use for energy, our body converts them to triglycerides and stores them in fat cells. If there is a time later when your body needs that stored energy, hormones release the triglycerides, and they are burned off as energy (1). What’s tricky here is even though triglycerides are fats, they can be made from carbohydrates – so if you eat a lot of carbohydrate-rich foods, they will likely be converted to triglycerides and stored as fat in our bodies(1).
What are healthy Triglyceride levels?
Triglyceride Levels (1)
Normal: < 150 mg/dL
Borderline High: 150-199 mg/dL
High: 200-499 mg/dL
Very High: 500 mg/dL
It is recommended that testing should begin from the ages 9-11, and then the test should be repeated every five years. However, if there is a family history of heart disease, including high cholesterol, heart attack, or stroke, testing can begin as early as age two. For ages 20 and older, the testing recommendations are as follows: (4)
Every 5 years for:
- Men between ages 20-45
- Women between ages 20-55
Every 1-2 years for:
- Men >45 years
- Women >55 years
Every year for adults >65 years
How are Triglycerides different from cholesterol?
Triglycerides (TGs) are part of a standard lipid panel, meaning they are tested alongside other types of fat in your bloodstream, one of them being cholesterol. When it comes to each of these in the context of our health, cholesterol is certainly a buzzword in popular media regarding health, and rightfully so. It is vital in our overall health profile, but in terms of a lipid profile, it tends to steal the spotlight. Triglycerides and cholesterol are both types of fats that circulate in our body, though they each have different functions. As mentioned above, triglycerides are used as stored energy within our body. Cholesterol is a substance made by the liver that supports hormone production and fat digestion (8). However, there is more and more evidence that high triglyceride levels can actually increase our risk of cardiovascular disease regardless of cholesterol levels (2).
What does it mean if my triglycerides are high and what are the adverse effects?
If you receive your bloodwork back and your triglycerides are high, it means your risk of heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular conditions is higher (4). This is because high levels of TGs contribute to the thickening or hardening of your blood vessel walls – this process is known as atherosclerosis (7). Atherosclerosis can increase your risk of stroke, heart attack, and heart disease because it is more difficult for blood to travel throughout your body. Extremely high triglycerides can cause acute inflammation of your pancreas, which causes other serious complications, like kidney failure or infection (6). Additionally, consistently high levels of TGs can lead to changes in the blood vessels of our eyes and potentially cause skin breakdown and damage to the back, chest, arms, and legs (5).
What factors are causing me to have high TGs?
Like many other chronic diseases, high triglycerides are often influenced heavily by diet and lifestyle factors. Since triglycerides are stored as energy, if you consistently eat more calories than you burn off, your body is likely producing and storing high amounts of triglycerides. This can happen especially if the calories you consume are simple carbohydrates, like sugary foods or sugar-sweetened beverages. Other risk factors include cigarette smoking and excessive alcohol use (1).
However, some factors are out of our control and can cause high triglycerides. Certain medications, including diuretics, retinoids, steroids, beta-blockers, estrogen, and progestin (6), may cause high triglycerides. High triglycerides also indicate that other chronic conditions may exist in your body. These can include diabetes, liver or kidney diseases, metabolic syndrome, and hypothyroidism (6). If your triglyceride levels start to rise, it is essential to discuss the potential of other conditions with your physician.
How can someone lower high TG
Like many other chronic diseases, high triglycerides can be lowered and controlled through dietary and lifestyle management and with the support of medical management. Some strategies for reducing triglycerides include:
- Regular physical activity
- Not smoking
- Limiting added sugars and refined foods
- Limiting alcohol
- Fiber – Total fiber intake is inversely related to TG concentrations (3)
- Switching from saturated fats to healthier fats
- Certain medicines can help lower your risk, but speak to your doctor before starting any medications or supplements (5)
- Statins
- Fibrates
- Fish oil
- Niacin
Self-paced Masterclass to Lower Your Cholesterol
Undertaking these lifestyle changes for lowering triglyceride levels can feel overwhelming. We’re here to help. If you are not ready to partner with a registered dietitian, check out our self-paced masterclass: The Cholesterol Solution: How to Lower Your Cholesterol.
Sources:
(1) https://medlineplus.gov/triglycerides.html
(3) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6389638/
(4) https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/triglycerides-test/
(5) https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/high-blood-triglycerides
(6) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6938588/
(7) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5719571/#Sec2
(8) https://www.cdc.gov/cholesterol/about/index.html
