Triglycerides are naturally occurring fats in the body tissues. They form the basic biochemical in which majority of fat exists in the human body. They are esters formed from a molecule of alcohol glycerol and three molecules of fatty acids. They can be found in fat cells, blood plasma, and together with cholesterol(a colorless, odorless, and tasteless waxy lipid use in making cells and certain hormone), they form the plasma lipids, transported as plasma lipoproteins (lipid combined with transporter protein enzyme). They are considered to have adverse effects on human health when consumed in excess of expenditure by the body.
Triglycerides in plasma are derived from fats and carbohydrate eaten in foods or made in the body from other energy sources. The ones stored in fat cells are formed from transported unused calories, ingested in a meal and immediately converted and sent to these fat tissues. They are regulated and released by hormones to meet the body's needs for energy between meals.
Four major group of plasma lipoproteins
Since fat is less dense than water, the density of lipoprotein decreases as the proportion of lipid to protein increases. In addition to free fatty acid these four group of plasma lipoprotein have been identified, and are important in clinical diagnosis:
1.Chylomicron; derived from absorbed intestinal triglycerides and other lipids
2.Very low density lipoprotein (VLDL); derived from the lever for export of triglycerides
3.Low density lipoprotein (LDL); representing the final stage of metabolic breakdown of VLDL
4.High density lipoprotein (HDL); involved in chylomicron and VLDL metabolism and in cholesterol transport.
Triglycerides are the predominant lipid in chylomicrons and VLDL, while cholesterol and phospholipids dominates LDL and HDL
Guidelines for triglyceride level
Hypertriglyceridemia is the presence of excessive plasma triglyceride. It is a chief cause of atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and a consequence of other health conditions, such as obesity and untreated diabetes.
A simple blood test can reveal whether you fall into a healthy range. Below are fasting plasma triglyceride level for adults:
Normal ------------------------- Less than 150 mg/dl
Borderline-high --------------- 150 to 199 mg/dl
High ----------------------------- 200 to 499 mg/dl
Very high ---------------------- 500 mg/dl or higher
The Lipid Profile test is more comprehensive, it shows your triglyceride and total cholesterol level; normal cholesterol level HDL (high-density lipoprotein) and abnormal cholesterol level LDL (low-density lipoprotein).
High intakes of saturated fat can increase abnormal Cholesterol levels, found in meat, milk, butter, cheese, chips, and most snacks.
Causes and risk factors
1. Age
2. Sedentary life style
3. Emotional stress.
4 Unhealthy diet
5. High intake of alcohol
6. Smoking
7. Obesity or overweight
8. Natural assortment for hereditary
9. Hypothyroidism (low levels of thyroid hormones)
10. Genetic dysfunction that affect the conversion of fat to energy in the body.
11. Use of medications such as steroids, beta blockers, birth control pills, diuretics or some breast cancer drugs.
The Heart Foundation recommends a level of cholesterol less than 4.0mmol/L for individuals with high risk of heart condition.
Complications
1.Diabetes
2. Liver disease.
3.Obesity and overweight.
4.high blood pressure.
5.Stroke (a result of shock).
6.Atherosclerosis, which increases the risk of coronary artery disease, heart attack and heart disease.
7.metabolic syndrome (conditions that includes too much fat around the waist and abdomen)
Management keys to a healthy life style
1.Avoid smoking
2.Limit intake of alcoholic drinks
3.Avoid the habit of not exercising regularly
4.Avoid late-night heavy eating or snacking
5.Reduce your daily fat intake to the barest minimum
6.Limit saturated fat to about 7% of your total daily calories
7.Replace saturated fats with canola and olive oils most often
8.Adopt portion control measures to moderate calorie intake
9.Eat small, frequent meals and avoid skipping meals
10.Avoid simple carbohydrates, such as sugar and foods made of white flour.
11.Avoid red meats, egg yolks and whole milk products.
12.Avoid not eating fruits, vegetables and non-fat or low-fat dairy products most often.
13.Substitute fish high in omega-3 fatty acids (e.g. mackerel and salmon) for red meat.
14.Avoid fried foods and commercial baked products, such as cookies, crackers and cake snacks
Inspire yourself by concentrating on the gain in weight-loss, such as exerting energy to improve health. You can achieve this in reducing intake of saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol content of your diet, substituting monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (as canola oil, olive oil or liquid margarine) for saturated fats. More so, fatty fishes high in omega-3 fatty acids may be use in place for meats high in saturated fat. Fishes such as mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna and salmon contain high omega-3 fatty acids.
Alcohol contain elevated amount of calories and has a special potent effect on triglycerides. Even a little amounts of alcohol can elevate triglyceride levels.
Set a target of at least 30 minutes of moderate to intensive physical activity on four to six days each week. Regular exercise can enhance your cholesterol to a healthy level.
Since coronary artery disease and other related conditions multiply their hazards from cigarette smoking high triglyceride and cholesterol level, a combination of medical attention and dietary management may be helpful.
Christian Izeh, is a medical scientist and a researcher on health prevention tips, for more information visit: healthprevention.wordpress.com healthprevention.wordpress.com
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