Health Column
Triglycerides Above 1.7 mmol/L: How to Read the Number and What to Eat
Triglycerides are the form of fat in which the body stores energy. The triglyceride level on a blood test moves much more in response to meals and alcohol than the cholesterol level does.
How to read the reference table
| Triglycerides (mmol/L) | Category |
|---|---|
| Below 1.7 (150 mg/dL) | Optimal |
| 1.7 – 2.2 (150 – 199 mg/dL) | Borderline |
| 2.3 – 5.5 (200 – 499 mg/dL) | High |
| 5.6 or above (500 mg/dL) | Very high |
A triglyceride level of 1.7 mmol/L or higher is also one of the diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome. You can find the detailed criteria in Understanding blood lipids.
Why might it come out high?
- A meal before the test — Triglycerides rise after eating, so a value measured without fasting can come out high.
- Alcohol — Drinking is a leading cause of raised triglycerides.
- Sweet drinks and refined carbohydrates — Surplus sugar is turned into triglycerides in the liver.
- Abdominal obesity and lack of exercise — As waist circumference grows, triglycerides often rise along with it.
What to change in your diet
- Cut back on alcohol or stop drinking it. If triglycerides are very high, abstaining is the rule.
- Cut back on sugar and refined carbohydrates such as sweet drinks, snacks and white bread.
- Add oily fish such as mackerel and salmon to your diet.
- Increase dietary fibre with vegetables, mixed grains and seaweed. Among dietary fibres, resistant maltodextrin is also an ingredient recognised for the “may help improve blood triglyceride levels” function.
If your level is very high at 500 or above, you must discuss treatment with your health care provider along with lifestyle management.
- Korean Society of Lipid and Atherosclerosis, Dyslipidemia Treatment Guidelines, 5th edition (2022)