What Causes High Triglycerides in a Person With a Healthy Body Weight?

Triglycerides are a type of fat that circulates in your bloodstream. After you eat a meal, any calories that are not needed for immediate use are converted into triglycerides and stored. Triglycerides can then be used for energy between meals.

Although triglycerides play an important role in body function, elevated triglycerides can be harmful to your health. High triglyceride levels are associated with an increased risk of heart disease, according to MedlinePlus. Elevated triglycerides are often associated with obesity, but a number of factors can cause elevated triglycerides even in people at a healthy body weight.

Sugary Foods

Foods that are high in sugar and refined grains can cause elevated triglycerides regardless of a person's body weight, according to the National Lipid Association. To reduce triglyceride levels, limit your intake of sugary foods such as soda, candy, ice cream, syrup, and jelly. Artificial sweeteners can be used in place of sugar to provide a sweet flavor without contributing to high triglyceride levels. The American Heart Association recommends you get no more than 6 percent of your daily calories from added sugar. Refined grains, including white bread, white rice, and pasta, are quickly converted into sugar in the body, elevating triglyceride levels. Whole-grain breads, cereals, crackers, and pasta, and brown rice convert more slowly into glucose.

Alcohol

In addition to simple sugars and refined grains, alcohol is also associated with high triglyceride levels, even for people at a healthy body weight. Research indicates it could have to do with the damaging effects of alcohol on your liver, which makes some triglycerides. Reducing your alcohol intake or avoiding it altogether can help lower triglycerides to a healthy level.

Dietary Fat

People at a healthy body weight may have elevated triglycerides because of the types of fat they eat. To reduce triglyceride levels, Mayo Clinic recommends decreasing saturated fat and trans fat intake. Saturated fat is found primarily in animal products, including fatty cuts of red meat, whole milk, cheese, butter, and lard. Trans fats are found in commercial baked goods and fried foods. Replace unhealthy oils and fats with monounsaturated fats, such as olive oil or canola oil, and include fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, sardines, and tuna in your diet.

Health Conditions

Some people are born with a genetic condition that makes them more likely to have high triglycerides. More common medical problems can also cause elevated triglycerides for certain people. According to Cleveland Clinic, these include:

• Diabetes
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Underactive thyroid

Both pregnancy and menopause can also affect your triglyceride levels.

Medications

Another possible cause of elevated triglycerides that has nothing to do with your weight or your diet: prescription medications. Several different types of medications are known to raise triglyceride levels, according to Endotext. Among them are:

• Hormone therapy, whether as birth control or cancer treatment
• Retinoids
• Corticosteroids
• Immunosuppressants
• Beta-blockers
• Some diuretics
• Antipsychotics

If you think a medication may be responsible for your high triglyceride levels, talk to your doctor about whether there's an alternative. Never stop taking a prescription medication without their approval.

The Takeaway

• Triglycerides are a type of fat that is measured along with cholesterol in a blood test called a lipid panel.
• If your triglycerides are high, you are at increased risk for heart disease.
• Many causes of high triglycerides are related to your diet, such as eating more calories than you burn; eating a lot of sugar, refined carbs, or saturated fat; and drinking alcohol.
• Certain health conditions and prescription drugs can also raise your triglyceride levels.