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Triglycerides

Triglycerides are a type of fat in the bloodstream and fat tissue. Too much of this type of fat can contribute to the hardening and narrowing of your arteries. This puts you at risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Diseases such as diabetes, obesity, kidney failure or alcoholism can cause high triglycerides. Often, high triglycerides occur along with high levels of cholesterol, another type of fat.

Triglycerides are measured along with cholesterol as part of a blood test. Normal triglyceride levels are below 150. Levels above 200 are high. If your triglyceride level is high, you can lower it by

Triglyceride on Wikipedia

'''Triglycerides''' (or '''triacylglycerols''') are glycerides in which the glycerol is esterified with three fatty acids. They are the main constituent of vegetable oil and animal fats.

Chemical structure

'''CH2'''COOR-'''CH'''COOR'-'''CH'''2-COOR" where R, R', and R" are '''fatty acids'''; the three fatty acids can be all different, all the same, or only two the same. Chain lengths of the fatty acids in triglycerides can be from 4 to 22 Carbon atoms, but 16 and 18 are most common. Shorter chain lengths are found in butter for instance. Almost without exception, only even numbers of carbon atoms are found in natural fatty acids - due to the way they are bio-synthesised from acetic acid. Most natural fats contain a complex mixture of individual triglycerides; because of this, they melt over a broad range of temperatures. Cocoa butter is unusual in that it is mostly a single triglyceride (composed of Palmitic acid, Oleic acid and Stearic acids in that order) and has a fairly sharp melting point (so chocolate melts in the mouth without feeling greasy).

Metabolism

''(see Fatty acid metabolism)''
Triglycerides play an important role in metabolism as energy sources. They contain twice as much energy (8000 calorie/kg) as carbohydrates. In the intestine, triglycerides are split into glycerol and fatty acids (with the help of lipases and bile secretions), which can then move into blood vessels. The triglycerides are rebuilt in the blood from their fragments and become constituents of lipoproteins. Various tissues can release the free fatty acids and take them up as a source of energy. Fat cells can synthesize and store triglycerides. When the body requires fatty acids as an energy source, the hormone glucagon signals ...   [ Read More ]

External Resources

Remedies USA - Offering anethum which is a natural herbal remedy for high triglycerides and cholesterol.

Wall Chemie GmbH - Germany. Manufacturers of nonionic surfactants and lubricants based on fatty alcohols, fatty acids, triglycerides, fatty amines and alkylphenoles for the papermaking, textile, machining, leather and cosmetics industries. English and German.

eMedicine Health - Consumer health resource center providing information on importance and preparation of cholesterol tests. Defines total, HDL (good) and LDL (bad) cholesterol as well as triglycerides.

Fish Oils and Cholesterol/Triglycerides - Summaries of research concerning fish oils and serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

For Your Health - High Cholesterol Risks - High cholesterol, lipids, lipoproteins, LDL HDL, triglycerides, and metabolic syndrome. Offers answers as to what it all means, and how to treat it.

LivingHeart.com - Individualized diets to lower weight, cholesterol, triglyceride, blood pressure, and blood sugar. Tips, books, online nutrient analysis of your diet, plus nutrition counseling with a dietitian.

Study: High triglyceride levels a strong predictor of stroke - [CNN]

Study: Heart risks rise with high triglycerides even if cholesterol normal - [CNN]

West Texas Diabetes and Endocrine Center - Specializes in diabetes, osteoporosis, thyroid conditions, cholesterol and triglyceride abnormalities, with links to additional reference material for patients. Contact information provided.

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