Although there is no minimum value for the amount of triglycerides in the blood, very low values, such as those less than 50 ml /dL, may indicate a type of disease or metabolic alteration, such as malabsorption, malnutrition or hyperthyroidism, for example.
Thus, although low triglyceride values are recommended to ensure better cardiovascular health, very low values should be evaluated by a doctor, to identify if there are any problems to be treated.
- The main reason for increased blood triglyceride levels is excess calories in the diet.
- Either from carbohydrate or fat consumption.
- For example.
- People who follow a very restrictive diet.
- Especially in terms of calories.
- May have very low triglyceride levels.
What to do: This is considered normal, however, it is important that the diet be monitored by a nutritionist, as very restrictive diets can damage long-term health.
Some medications used to control high cholesterol levels may have the side effect of reducing triglycerides, even when they are at adequate levels.The most common is the use of statins, fibrates or omega 3.
What to do: Ask your doctor who prescribed the use of the medicine and evaluate the possibility of changing its use to another medicine.
Malnutrition is a similar cause to the low-calorie diet and is caused by a very low calorie level, which does not allow the formation of triglycerides; However, this is a much more serious situation, which involves reducing several nutrients important to the body.
Symptoms that may help identify a malnutrition situation include
What to do: If a malnutrition situation is suspected, especially in people with empty heads or without access to quality food, it is important to consult a general practitioner or endocrinologist to confirm the diagnosis and initiate appropriate treatment, which in addition to food, should include the use of nutritional supplements to replace the missing nutrients.
It is a syndrome in which the intestine is unable to adequately absorb nutrients from food, resulting in a decrease in the number of calories, avoiding the formation of triglycerides and decreasing their amount in the body.
An easy-to-identify sign, which may indicate that the person has malabsorption syndrome, is the presence of floating, oily, clear stools.
What to do: A gastroenterologist should be consulted for diagnostic tests, such as endoscopy and stool tests, to identify the cause of malabsorption and begin the most appropriate treatment.
The thyroid is a very important gland in the regulation of metabolism, so when there is a change in which its functioning increases, as in hyperthyroidism, the body begins to use more energy and can end up consuming triglyceride reserves, which which leads to a marked decrease in their levels.
In addition to modifying triglycerides, hyperthyroidism can have other consequences in the body such as weight loss, changes in heart rate, weakening of nails and hair, as well as behavioral changes, with periods of increased nervousness and anxiety.
What to do: To identify a case of hyperthyroidism, it is advisable to consult a family doctor or endocrinologist to perform blood tests and identify if there is an excess of the hormone thyroxine, which is produced by the thyroid, if the diagnosis is confirmed, the doctor may recommend a treatment with changes in the diet and the use of any medication. See in more detail how hyperthyroidism is treated.
To normalize triglyceride values in addition to controlling the cause with medical treatment, a healthy diet should be adopted, taking meals every 3 hours.Here are some tips on what you can eat: The secrets of a healthy diet.
However, it is not recommended to over-increase triglycerides as they increase the risk of developing heart disease or even having a heart attack, for example. Triglyceride reference values range from 50 to 150 ml/dL and should be kept in this range to ensure you have enough energy to cope with long-term fasting or insufficient food.
Triglycerides are produced by ingesting excess sugar and are not directly related to dietary fats. When the individual ingests large amounts of sugar, the body first produces triglycerides, which then accumulate in the form of fat that can form ateroma plaques within the arteries or be stored as localized fat..
Learn what you can do to normalize your triglycerides: Diet that gets fat.