The role and importance of triglycerides in the body
What are triglycerides?
Triglycerides make up the majority of dietary fats and serve as a vital energy source for your body. When you consume more calories than your body needs, these extra calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in fat tissue.1
How triglycerides work
During meals, fats are transported from your intestines into your blood in the form of triglycerides. These triglycerides are then absorbed by muscles, fat tissue, and organs for energy use. Triglycerides can also be formed from sugar (such as those found in soft drinks and juices) and alcohol.1
Transporting triglycerides
Triglycerides cannot travel through the blood on their own. They are carried by particles called chylomicrons, which act as transport vehicles.1
Breaking down triglycerides
An enzyme called lipoprotein lipase (LPL) breaks down triglycerides transported in chylomicrons, releasing free fatty acids that your body can use for energy.2
Why fats are important
Fats, including triglycerides, are an essential energy source. They help store energy from the food you eat and release it when your body needs it.
What happens when triglyceride levels are too high?
If triglyceride levels in your blood become too high, this is called hypertriglyceridemia. This condition can lead to various symptoms and complications including acute pancreatitis, making it important to manage your triglyceride levels for overall health.3
Triglyceride
References
- Bashir, B. et al. Severe Hypertriglyceridaemia and Chylomicronaemia Syndrome—Causes, Clinical Presentation, and Therapeutic Options. Metabolites 2023, 13, 621.
- Brunzell JD, Bierman EL. Chylomicronemia Syndrome, Interaction of Genetic and Acquired Hpertriglyceridemia. Med Clin North Am 1982;66(2):455–68;
- Davidson M, et al. The burden of familial chylomicronemia syndrome: Results from the global IN-FOCUS study. J Clin Lipidol 2018;12(4):898–907.
Pancreatitis – what is it?
Acute pancreatitis is a sudden inflammation of the pancreas. The primary symptom is severe, sudden pain in the upper abdomen. Other symptoms may include nausea and vomiting.
Hypertriglyceridemia - signs & symptoms
Severely high triglyceride levels are associated with a broad spectrum of non-specific symptoms. If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to get your triglyceride levels tested.
Causes of high triglyceride levels
High triglyceride levels, also known as hypertriglyceridemia, indicate a disorder of fat metabolism. This can have multiple causes…