Guide To The Different Types Of Cholesterol

Triglycerides

The liver makes triglycerides from carbohydrates and proteins. Used as an energy source by all of the cells in the body other than brain cells, triglycerides are the most concentrated form of energy found within the body. They function as storage containers for fat, and they are mostly stored in fat cells; some muscle cells also store triglycerides. Since triglycerides are made from carbohydrates and proteins, many individuals naturally have high triglycerides during the two hours immediately after a meal, and elevated triglycerides can sometimes persist for up to nine hours after eating. High triglyceride levels affect approximately ten percent of the population, and they are especially common in male patients and Caucasians. As with low-density lipoproteins, having an excessive amount of triglycerides in the blood is associated with an increased risk of heart disease and strokes. Patients with elevated triglycerides will not normally have any symptoms, and most individuals only find out about their elevated levels if they undergo a cholesterol test. Current guidelines state triglycerides should be below 150mg/dL, and triglyceride readings are considered high if they are 200mg/dL or above. Patients with readings of 500mg/dL or more are categorized as having very high levels.