Triglycerides (TG) Blood Test

The triglyceride level test helps measure the amount of triglycerides in your blood. Triglycerides are a type of fat, or lipid, found in the blood. The results of this test help your doctor determine your risk of developing heart disease.

A simple blood test can reveal whether your triglycerides fall into a healthy range:

Normal — Less than 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), or less than 1.7 millimoles per liter (mmol/L) Borderline high — 150 to 199 mg/dL (1.8 to 2.2 mmol/L) High — 200 to 499 mg/dL (2.3 to 5.6 mmol/L)

What happens if triglycerides are high?

However, high triglyceride levels in your blood can raise your risk of heart disease and stroke. High blood triglycerides are a type of lipid disorder. This condition can develop on its own, with other lipid disorders like high blood cholesterol or low HDL cholesterol, or as part of metabolic syndrome.

What would cause triglycerides to be high?

Causes include obesity, eating too much unhealthy food, genetics, certain illnesses including poorly controlled diabetes, kidney disease, and underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism). Some drugs, such as steroids and birth control pills, and drinking a lot of alcohol can also cause it.

Is it bad to have very low triglycerides?

Although low triglyceride levels are associated with a heart-healthy diet, having excessively low triglyceride levels can be concerning. An adequate amount of fat is still needed for our bodies to function. Extremely low triglyceride levels can suggest inadequate fat intake to support a healthy body.