What are the causes and how to treat high triglycerides

The rise of triglycerides may be caused by diseases such as improper diet, lack of exercise, obesity, genetic factors or diabetes, which can be intervened by adjusting diet structure, increasing exercise, weight control, drug treatment and regular monitoring.

1. Improper diet:

Long term intake of high sugar and high-fat foods such as desserts and fried foods can directly increase triglyceride levels. Refined carbohydrates such as white bread and sugary drinks are rapidly converted into triglycerides in the body. Suggest reducing saturated fat intake and increasing intake of foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as deep-sea fish and nuts.

2. Lack of exercise:

Prolonged sitting can lead to a decrease in lipoprotein lipase activity, affecting triglyceride breakdown metabolism. Engaging in moderate intensity aerobic exercise such as brisk walking and swimming for over 150 minutes per week can promote triglyceride breakdown. Triglyceride levels can decrease by 20% -30% within 12 hours after exercise.

3. Obesity factors:

Excessive visceral fat can promote the release of free fatty acids and stimulate the liver to synthesize more triglycerides. For every 5% -10% decrease in weight, triglycerides can be reduced by about 20%. The degree of obesity can be evaluated by calculating BMI and waist circumference measurement. For males with waist circumference ≥ 90cm and females with waist circumference ≥ 85cm, key interventions are needed.

4. Genetic effects:

Familial hypertriglyceridemia is an autosomal dominant genetic disease, and patients often have a history of early-onset cardiovascular disease. Even after lifestyle intervention, most of these patients still require combination therapy with medication. Genetic testing can detect mutations in genes such as LPL and APOC2.

5. Disease induction:

Uncontrolled diabetes will increase free fatty acids due to insulin resistance, and hypothyroidism will reduce lipase activity. This type of secondary hypertriglyceridemia requires treatment of the primary disease first, while monitoring indicators such as blood glucose and thyroid function. In addition to the above intervention measures, it is recommended to quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption, as alcohol can inhibit triglyceride breakdown. Cooking should use unsaturated fatty acid oils such as olive oil, and the daily intake of nuts should be controlled within 30 grams. Regularly check the four levels of blood lipids, and for patients with triglycerides consistently above 5.6mmol/L, be alert to the risk of acute pancreatitis. Patients with combined hypertension and coronary heart disease should control triglycerides below 1.7mmol/L. Lack of sleep can also affect lipid metabolism, ensuring 7-8 hours of high-quality sleep per day can help regulate blood lipids.