Triglyceride.

What are Triglycerides. Triglycerides are chemical compounds  which are present in the body and foods. In the body, triglycerides are present in the plasma and along with cholesterol form the lipid profile of the blood.

Though triglycerides are seen about as bad for health, they do perform certain important functions in the body. However, it is the high levels of triglycerides in the blood that can cause serious complications. Due to their functions, a normal intake of triglycerides is advised.

Triglycerides.

Sources of Triglycerides.

1)      Vegetable oils and natural animal fats are the rich sources of triglycerides.

2)      Triglycerides are manufactured in the body from consumption of fats and carbohydrates. Therefore, a diet high in fats or carbohydrates can cause an increase in triglyceride levels.

Structure of Triglycerides.

To understand triglycerides, know what are lipids and fats.

Lipids are a naturally occurring molecules and include fats, sterols, fat soluble vitamins, monoglycerides, diglycerides, phospholipids and others.

Fats are a form of lipids and are chemical compounds that dissolve in organic solvents but are not soluble in water. They consist of glycerol and fatty acids. Lipids or fats are present in food as phospholipids (lecithin), sterols (cholesterol) and triglycerides.

Triglycerides are a form of fats and have glycerol attached to three molecules of fatty acids. (That’s the reason for “Tri” meaning three in triglycerides)

Chemical Structure of Triglycerides.

 

Triglycerides and Cholesterol.

Difference.  Both are fats that do not dissolve in blood and therefore are transported through blood with the help of proteins. Cholesterol combination with proteins is called LDL and HDL, while VLDL (very low density lipoprotein) is combination of proteins with triglycerides (major component) and cholesterol. Functions of cholesterol and functions of triglycerides also differ.

Functions of Triglycerides.

As triglycerides are a form of fat, do read benefits of fats, for a better overview of triglycerides functions.

1) Triglycerides provide energy.

Carbohydrates and proteins provide you with energy, but triglycerides provide you with twice the amount of energy. When fats are broken down and converted into energy, all calories are not necessarily used as energy and those that are not, are converted into triglycerides and stored in the body as adipose tissue (fat tissue). These triglycerides are then converted into energy when required.

2) Triglycerides provide insulation.

Layers of adipose  tissue under the skin provides insulation against extremes of temperature. Adipose tissue around the organs provide protective cushion against trauma.

3) Triglycerides provide nutrition.

Fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K require triglycerides to become soluble and get stored. Low triglycerides in the body will cause deficiency of these vitamins.

Triglycerides Levels.

Testing for triglycerides levels is done by blood test  which is performed on a person or patient who has been fasting for 9 to 12 hours. A non fasting blood sample will give a false high triglyceride level as triglyceride levels are elevated after eating.

Chart of Triglyceride Levels.

 

Normal Triglyceride Levels	Less than 150 per desiliter.
Borderline Triglyceride Levels.	Between 150 to 200 mg/dl
High Triglyceride Levels	More than 200 mg/dl
Very High triglyceride Levels.	More than 500 mg/dl

Other posts on Triglycerides.

1) Triglycerides.2) Low Triglycerides 3) High Triglycerides 4) How to lower triglycerides. 5) High Triglycerides Treatment.6)High triglyceride foods.

 

Related posts:

1. Foods High in Triglycerides.
2. Low Triglycerides.
3. High Triglycerides.
4. Triglycerides – How to Lower Triglycerides.
5. Treatment of High Triglycerides.