Triglycerides
Elevated and Decreased Triglycerides
What are triglycerides?
Until recently, it was believed that if your triglyceride level was between 1.7 and 2.26 mmol / L, you might not be afraid of early cardiovascular disease. But recent studies by scientists from a medical center in the United States, Maryland, suggest that even with 1.13 mmol / l of triglycerides in the blood, there is a risk of developing vascular atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction. When assessing the situation, one more important indicator should be taken into account - the ratio of cholesterols.
There are two types of cholesterol: LDL and HDL. They are normally present in the blood of any person, but in order for us to be healthy as long as possible, the ratio between the types of cholesterol must be correct. Nutritionists often subdivide cholesterol into "bad" and "good", it sounds simpler, and the essence of the problem is conveyed absolutely precisely: there should be little bad cholesterol and a lot of good cholesterol. If the condition is met, then even with a triglyceride level of about 2.26 mmol / L, the risk of developing dangerous cardiovascular diseases is not great.
A large scientific study recently conducted by Finnish scientists proves that people over fifty years of age who have an improper cholesterol balance and blood triglyceride levels above 2.3 mmol / L are four times more likely to develop myocardial infarction than those who have such a problem. does not have.
The bad news is that a lack of "good" cholesterol almost always leads to an increase in triglycerides. How can you protect your health?
Triglyceride rate
The norm of triglycerides varies greatly depending on age, below is a table by age for men and women:
| Triglyceride level, mmol / l | ||||||
| Age | Men | To 10 | 0.34 - 1.13 | 0.40 - 1.24 | ||
| 10 - 15 | 0.36 - 1.41 | 0.42 - 1.48 | ||||
| 15 - 20 | 0.45 - 1.81 | 0.40 - 1.53 | ||||
| 20 - 25 | 0.50 - 2.27 | 0.41 - 1.48 | ||||
| 25 - 30 | 0.52 - 2.81 | 0.42 - 1.63 | ||||
| 30 - 35 | 0.56 - 3.01 | 0.44 - 1.70 | ||||
| 35 - 40 | 0.61 - 3.62 | 0.45 - 1.99 | ||||
| 40 - 45 | 0.62 - 3.61 | 0.51 - 2.16 | ||||
| 45 - 50 |
0.65 - 3.70 |
0.52 - 2.42 | ||||
| 50 - 55 | 0.65 - 3.61 | 0.59 - 2.63 | ||||
| 55 - 60 | 0.65 - 3.23 | 0.62 - 2.96 | ||||
| 60 - 65 | 0.65 - 3.29 | 0.63 - 2.70 | ||||
| 65 - 70 | 0.62 - 2.94 | 0.68 - 2.71 | ||||
Measurement units: mmol / l.
Alternative units: mg / dl = mg / 100 ml = mg%
Conversion factors: mg / dl x 0.0113 => mmol / l.
Triglycerides are elevated
If a person's triglycerides are higher than normal, then this may indicate such possible diseases as: hypertension, myocardial infarction, ischemic heart disease, atherosclerosis, chronic renal failure, cerebrovascular thrombosis, viral hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, obesity, gout, thalassemia, Down syndrome, impaired glucose tolerance, hypercalcemia, neurotic anorexia, diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, acute and chronic pancreatitis, and alcoholism.
Above the norm, triglycerides can also be increased due to the use of oral contraceptives, various drugs of sex hormones, as well as during pregnancy.
Triglycerides are lowered
It is possible to observe low triglycerides in such human conditions as lung diseases (it refers to chronic lung diseases), cerebral infarction, hyperthyroidism, damage to the parenchyma (kidney tissue), myasthenia gravis, nutritional deficiencies, injuries, burns, and also when taking vitamin C.
How to lower blood triglyceride levels?
Foods That Lower Triglyceride Levels
By reviewing your diet, you can naturally and easily get rid of excess triglycerides. Seafood and fish will help us: they contain not only valuable proteins and amino acids, but also fish oil, familiar to everyone from childhood. Why is it so useful? Scientists at the University of Oregon put a group of people with elevated blood triglyceride levels on a fish diet. Each day, subjects ate 210 grams of salmon or other fatty fish. As a result, over several months of the experiment, the triglyceride levels of all its participants decreased by about 50%.
The University of Washington decided to try seafood: people were asked to eat crabs, shellfish and oysters twice a day. Molluscs proved to be the best - they were able to reduce the level of triglycerides in the subjects' blood by 61% Oysters also showed good efficiency - 51%, crabs look more modest - 23%.
If you do not like seafood or are allergic to them, do not despair: regular garlic, as well as dried beans, can help you reduce blood triglycerides, according to various sources, by 13-25%. But the most sensible decision is to carefully review your menu and exclude foods that increase the level of dangerous triglycerides from the diet:
- Refined sugar;
- Flour products, cakes, pastries;
- Lard, sausages, smoked sausages, bacon, brisket;
- Powdered juices and soda drinks;
- Alcohol.
Medicines to lower blood triglycerides
Sometimes revising your diet does not help to cope with the problem, or these measures are not enough. If the patient is already old and overweight, it is often necessary to resort to medication. Here are the most effective medications for lowering triglyceride levels:
- Fibrates are organic compounds from the group of carboxylic acids that have an amphipathic effect, that is, they attract both water molecules and fat molecules. taking fibrates allows you to reduce triglyceride levels and increase HDL levels by suppressing the secretion of triglyceride-carrying particles by the liver;
- Nicotinic acid - niacin, also belongs to organic carboxylic acids, and has the same principle of action. Niacin inhibits the production of low-density lipoprotein transporter particles by the liver, in addition, it strongly increases the level of "good" cholesterol;
- Omega-3 fatty acids - in large doses, quickly reduce triglyceride levels, are sold in the pharmacy in the form of transparent capsules with fish oil. Very effective tool, affordable;
- Statins - atorvastatin, lovastatin, fluvastatin, pitavastatin, rosuvastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin. This group of drugs is intended not so much to lower triglyceride levels, but to fight the "bad" cholesterol. Statins block the activity of HMG-CoA reductase, a special enzyme involved in the production of cholesterol.
Possible side effects
Keep in mind that fibrates are not recommended to be taken with statins, as this can cause muscle damage. In addition, fibrates are often the cause of indigestion, liver pain and biliary colic. Nicotinic acid is relatively harmless, but in case of an overdose, it can provoke respiratory problems, abdominal pain, dizziness and yellowness of the skin. Omega-3 fatty acids should be consumed in moderation, as in large quantities they thin the blood, lower blood pressure and sugar levels, interfere with normal liver function, and even suppress the psyche.
Prevention of high triglyceride levels
Instead of puzzling over the solution to the problem, it is better to prevent it from occurring. By adhering to certain dietary rules, you can protect yourself from the harmful effects of excess triglycerides and maintain good health for a long time:
- Limit your intake of sweets and starchy foods. Instead of cakes and sweets, eat fresh fruits, berries and light yogurts for dessert;
- Do not overuse alcohol, especially beer and wine;
- Eat fatty fish (salmon, salmon) and seafood (squid, shrimp, crabs, mussels, oysters) at least twice a week;
- Provide the body with enough fiber: eat more vegetables and wholemeal products;
- Replace some animal proteins with vegetable ones: eat beans, beans, soy, tofu;
- Prefer more acidic fruits and berries, rich in fructose (grapes, peaches, melons, bananas) (green apples, oranges, strawberries, blueberries). It is enough to get 50-100 grams of fruit sugar a day, it is no longer necessary;
- Eat ready-made meat products as little as possible: sausages, small sausages, sausages, bacon, smoked sausage. Remember that even a low-fat-looking doctor's sausage can contain up to 30% of harmful animal fat;
- Prepare your own food by choosing the healthiest cooking methods: oven, grill, double boiler;
- Use the highest quality vegetable oil, preferably olive oil, for cooking and dressing salads.
Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist
Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".
