Vital laboratory package Total Plus includes 35 values and is an even more comprehensive health check for those who seek a deeper insight into their body’s well-being and greater opportunities to make better choices to improve their health.
Triglycerides are sources of energy
Elevated triglyceride levels rarely need to be lowered with medication, as changing lifestyle habits is the primary treatment.
Triglycerides
- Calories that the body does not consume immediately are stored in fat tissue as triglycerides.
- Increased blood triglycerides increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
- Primary treatment for elevated triglyceride levels is making lifestyle changes.
Triglycerides
Triglycerides are fats in the blood and fatty tissue that the body uses for energy. Calories that the body does not consume immediately are stored in fat tissue as triglycerides.
Increased blood triglycerides increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
What are blood triglycerides?
Triglycerides are composed of glycerol and three attached fatty acids. The body’s cells, especially liver cells, produce them on their own, but they are also obtained from food. Dietary fats, such as oils, butter, and animal fats found in meat, primarily consist of triglyceride fats. These fats are broken down in the small intestine and absorbed into the bloodstream for the body to use.
The body converts excess calories from food into triglycerides, which are then stored in fat cells to provide energy between meals.
Triglycerides do not directly accumulate in the walls of arteries, but elevated triglyceride levels increase the risk of heart and vascular diseases.
Reference value for fP-triglycerides
For adults: <1,7 mmol/l
Reference levels may vary depending on the laboratory and the test analysis method.
High triglyceride levels
Triglycerides in the blood are increased by the following factors:
- The most common cause is abdominal obesity and associated fatty liver, which is accompanied by disorders of fat metabolism in the liver. Elevated blood triglycerides are one of the symptoms of metabolic syndrome associated with abdominal obesity.
- High amount of fast-absorbing carbohydrates (sugar, light cereal products) in the diet.
- Excessive use of alcohol. Excessive alcohol has adverse effects on the metabolism of the liver. Moderate use (no more than two servings per day) does not affect triglyceride levels.
- Poorly controlled diabetes. The metabolism of triglycerides is linked to insulin and glucose. Therefore, their disorders are reflected in the level of triglycerides in the blood.
How can high triglyceride levels be treated?
Blood triglyceride levels can be influenced by lifestyle factors much more effectively than cholesterol levels. Elevated triglyceride levels rarely need to be lowered with medication as changing lifestyle habits is the primary treatment.
The tips below can help you prevent and treat elevated triglyceride levels.
- Losing weight and weight management are key measures for reducing triglyceride levels in individuals with abdominal obesity.
- Reducing alcohol consumption.
- Reducing fast-absorbing carbohydrates. Fast carbohydrates cause a rapid increase in blood sugar and insulin levels shortly after eating.
- Reducing the consumption of saturated animal fats and increasing the consumption of unsaturated fats.
- Ensuring you get enough dietary fiber. Fiber is obtained only from plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, seeds, mushrooms, and nuts. Dietary fiber can reduce the absorption of fat and sugar in the small intestine, which helps reduce triglyceride levels in the blood.
- Remember to exercise regularly, at least 30 minutes a day several times a week. Exercise increases the amount of good cholesterol in the body, which can help lower blood triglyceride levels.
How can I get my triglycerides tested?
You can order the triglyceride as a single test from Vital’s online store. Add the desired products to the shopping cart and complete all the tests at once.
The fP-Triglyceridesis included in the following test packages:
- Vital laboratory package Basic
- Vital laboratory package Total
- Vital laboratory package Total Plus
- Vital laboratory package Sport Woman
- Vital laboratory package Sport Man
- Vital laboratory package Woman 50+
- Vital laboratory package Man 50+
Vital laboratory package Total includes 26 values and is a great choice when you want to gain more thorough information about the well-being of your body.
The triglyceride level reflects the functioning of the body’s energy metabolism and the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Vital laboratory package Basic includes 21 values that give you a wide range of information on how your body is doing. It includes blood count, cholesterol levels, blood glucose, ferritin and studies of the functioning of the thyroid gland, liver and kidneys.
Cholesterol tells you about the health of your blood vessels
The total cholesterol measurement shows the total cholesterol value in the blood.
ApoA1 is a marker for “good” cholesterol
Apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) is a carrier protein that helps transport HDL cholesterol (also known as good cholesterol) as well as other harmful fat molecules in the blood.
HDL is a “good” cholesterol
Studies show that HDL cholesterol, or “good cholesterol”, is linked to better vascular health.
LDL is a “bad” cholesterol
The LDL cholesterol level shows the amount of harmful cholesterol in the blood.
Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) is a risk marker for cardiovascular disease
Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) is a carrier protein that helps transport LDL cholesterol (also known as “bad” cholesterol) as well as other harmful fat molecules in the blood.
Long-term glucose levels, hemoglobin A1C, B-HbA1c
Hemoglobin A1C indicates the glycated hemoglobin (long-term glucose levels) in the blood. Hemoglobin A1C, or glycated hemoglobin, shows your average blood glucose levels over the previous 2–8 weeks.
Article updated:
14 May 2024
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