Triglycerides

Triglycerides . Triglycerides, triacylglycerides or triacylglycerols are acylglycerols, a type of lipid, formed by a glycerol molecule , which has its three hydroxyl groups esterified by three fatty acids, saturated or unsaturated. Triglycerides are part of fats, especially of animal origin. Oils are liquid triglycerides of plant origin or that come from fish .

Triglycerides are the main type of fat transported by the body. It is named after its chemical structure . After eating, the body digests the fats in the food and releases triglycerides into the blood . These are transported throughout the body to provide energy or to be stored as fat .

The liver also produces triglycerides and changes some to cholesterol . The liver can change any source of excess calories into triglycerides.

Summary

[ disguise ]

• 1 Transport of triglycerides
  • 1 Lipoproteins
  • 2 Serum albumin
  • 3 Ketone bodies
• 2 Normal triglyceride level
• 3 What causes high levels of Triglycerides?
  • 1 It can have several causes
• 4 Symptoms of high triglycerides
  • 1 Frequent symptoms in women with high triglycerides
  • 2 Frequent symptoms in men with high triglycerides
• 5 Treatment
• 6 Important
• 7 Sources

Transport of triglycerides

Fats are hydrolyzed in the small intestine to form fatty acids and glycerin to cross the intestinal wall, isolated or in the form of soaps when combined with pancreatic and intestinal juices.
They are then rebuilt again on the other side of the intestinal wall; but since lipids are insoluble in water, they must be combined with proteins , synthesized by the intestine, to be transported and distributed through the blood to the entire organism; Triglyceride transport is closely integrated with the transport of other lipids, such as cholesterol , and is directly related to diseases such as atherosclerosis .
The human body uses three types of lipid transport vehicles:

Lipoproteins

Like chylomicrons , they are transported to the liver after absorption by the intestine, from where they are distributed to the rest of the body’s cells , especially adipose and muscle cells in the form of VLDL, IDL, LDL and HDL lipoproteins . Adipose tissue cells are the main fat reserve cells.

serum albumin

Transports free fatty acids .

ketone bodies

Small water-soluble molecules (acetoacetate and β-hydroxybutyrate) produced in the liver by oxidation of fatty acids. Since they are soluble in water (and therefore in the blood), they can travel in it without problems.

Normal triglyceride level

Triglyceride levels vary with age, and also depend on how recently you ate food before the test. The measurement is more accurate if you have not eaten in the 12 hours prior to it. The normal value is 150 mg/dL (less than 1.69 mmol/L). For those who suffer from heart problems, the levels of this substance should be less than 100 mg/dl. Elevated levels of triglycerides in the blood are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases: heart disease , ischemic heart disease , arrhythmias and death.

What causes high levels of Triglycerides?

It can have several causes

• Excess weight: Triglycerides generally increase as weight increases.
• Excessive calorie consumption: Triglycerides rise as they are ingested

too many calories, especially from sugar and alcohol . Alcohol increases the production of triglycerides in the liver.

• Age: Triglyceride levels increase regularly with age.
• Medications: Some drugs such as contraceptives , steroids , diuretics cause an increase in triglyceride levels.
• Diseases: Diabetes, hypothyroidism , kidney and liver diseases are associated with high triglyceride levels. Among the groups that should monitor their triglyceride levels more carefully are heart patients, diabetics, and women after menopause . More than 75% of diabetics have high triglyceride levels and 30% of women who have gone through menopause suffer from this same problem.
• Heredity: Some forms of high triglyceride levels occur among members of the same family.

Symptoms of high triglycerides

High triglycerides cause absolutely no symptoms but frequently these patients present:

Common symptoms in women with high triglycerides

• Increased belly fat
• Tiredness and muscle pain.
• Greasy root hair loss.
• Hirsutism and acne.
• Anxiety about eating carbohydrates in the afternoons.

Common symptoms in men with high triglycerides

• snoring when sleeping (sleep apnea)
• cholesterol
• fatty liver
• warts on the neck and armpits

Treatment

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• Lose body weight:Generally, when you lose weight, you can lower your triglyceride levels.
• Control carbohydrate intake:It is important to reduce the amount of carbohydrates consumed (bread, rice, beans, potatoes and floury vegetables, pasta, cereals), it is preferable to opt for whole foods.
• It is recommended to replace sugar with artificial sweetener:Eat less sugar and foods that contain it.
• Increase consumption of fruits and vegetables:It is essential to consume an adequate amount of fruits and vegetables to protect the arteries and heart.
• Decrease your consumption of total and saturated fat:Choose your calories from fat wisely. It is important to keep the amount of fat consumed to a minimum, and then it is important to avoid the animal type of fat. We should also avoid butter, custard, cream ice cream, full-fat dairy products, and very fatty meats.
• Use more fish in your diet:Eating fish 2 to 3 times a week is very beneficial (example: Salmon) since fish oil reduces triglyceride levels.

Important

It is always necessary for a patient with high triglycerides to be evaluated by a doctor, who can provide a series of strategies to correct this problem.

If these measures and changes in eating habits do not reduce the levels, treatment with medications (PPG, nicotinic acid and Gemfibrozil) is started. You should be warned if you suffer from liver diseases, diabetes, gout, ulcers, cardiac arrhythmias if you take nicotinic acid .