What are normal and high triglyceride levels?
The National Cholesterol Education Program sets guidelines for triglyceride levels: • Normal triglycerides means there are less than 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). • Borderline high triglycerides = 150 to 199 mg/dL. • High triglycerides = 200 to 499 mg/dL. • Very high triglycerides = 500 mg/dL or higher. High triglyceride levels are a risk factor for heart disease. Experts disagree, though, on just how bad of an effect high triglyceride levels by themselves have on the heart. Part of the dispute stems from the fact that high triglycerides have a tendency to “run with” other risk factors. High triglyceride levels often coexist with high total cholesterol and LDL (“bad cholesterol”), low HDL (“good cholesterol”), and diabetes. Triglycerides may be an “enabler” of other heart disease risk factors. That is, high triglyceride levels could multiply the bad effects of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and smoking. Some research also suggests that high triglycerides are a more impo
