How Can I Lower My Triglycerides Quickly?

Pictured is an artist's conception of a cell membrane at the molecular level -- the membrane is made of cholesterol. You can lower harmful blood cholesterol levels by diet and lifestyle changes in the long term and medications like statins can work in the short term.

Triglycerides are a type of fat-like substance in the blood that the body uses for energy. Some triglycerides are needed but too much of them can put people at higher risk for heart attack, stroke, inflammation of the pancreas, and other health problems.

What Are Symptoms of High Triglycerides?

• High triglycerides don't usually cause symptoms.
• If high triglycerides are caused by a genetic condition, fatty deposits under the skin called xanthomas may be present. 
• Patients with very high triglyceride levels (above 1000 mg/dL) may develop pancreatitis.

High triglycerides are caused by certain medical conditions, lifestyle habits, and some medicines, such as:

• Overweight/obesity
• Poorly controlled diabetes
• Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Regularly eating foods that are high in fat and sugar 
• Regularly eating more calories than you burn
• Excessive alcohol intake
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Pregnancy
• Certain medications
  • Tamoxifen
  • Steroids
  • Beta-blockers
  • Diuretics
  • Estrogen
  • Birth control pills

High triglycerides also can run in families.

High blood triglycerides are diagnosed with a routine blood test called a lipid panel. A lipid panel measures total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in the blood. 

Triglyceride level ranges are: 

• Normal: Less than 150 mg/dL 
• A little bit high: 150 to 499 mg/dL  
• Very high: 500 mg/dL or greater
• Moderately high: 500 to 886 mg/dL 
• Very high: Greater than 886 mg/dL 

In some cases, triglycerides may be lowered with lifestyle changes, such as: 

• Losing weight if you are overweight
• Getting regular exercise
• Avoiding foods and drinks high in sugar and carbohydrates 
• Avoiding red meat, fried foods, cheese, butter, oils, and nuts, especially if triglycerides are over 500
• Adding more omega-3 fatty acids to your diet
  • Foods high in omega 3’s include: 
    • Dark, leafy green vegetables
    • Ground flax seed 
    • Soy and legumes
    • Walnuts
    • Fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel
• Increasing fiber in the diet
• Limiting or avoiding alcohol 
• Controlling diabetes 

These dietary changes such as avoiding sugars, refined carbohydrates, and alcohol, plus adding more omega-3 fatty acids to the diet may lower triglycerides more quickly. 

Medications used to treat high triglycerides include:

• Fibrates
  • Fenofibrate (Antara, Fenoglide, Tricor)
  • Gemfibrozil (Lopid)
• Nicotinic acid (Niacor, Niaspan)
• Fish oil (Lovaza)
• Statins
  • Atorvastatin (Lipitor)
  • Fluvastatin (Lescol)
  • Lovastatin (Mevacor)
  • Pravastatin (Pravachol)
  • Rosuvastatin (Crestor)
  • Simvastatin (Zocor)

Complications of high triglycerides include:

• Increased risk of heart attack and stroke
• Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
• Metabolic syndrome
• Increased risk of type 2 diabetes
• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
• Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
• Dementia
• Eye complications
• Fatty deposits under the skin (xanthomas)

You can prevent high triglycerides by:

• Following a heart-healthy diet
• Avoiding or limiting alcohol
• Reducing sugar intake
• Getting regular exercise
• Maintaining a healthy body weight