Triglycerides
Triglycerides are a type of fat in your blood — your body makes them from extra calories and uses them for energy. When they stay high over time, they are linked to a greater chance of heart disease and stroke. The Australian target is a fasting level below 2.0 mmol/L, and the result always means most when read alongside your other heart-health numbers. You are probably hoping to know whether your number is OK — this page helps you read it and know what to ask.
Standard CareAustralian adults have high triglycerides (2.0 mmol/L or above, fasting), based on the 2011–12 Australian Health Survey.
What is triglycerides?
Triglycerides are the most common form of fat in your blood. Your body converts excess calories — particularly from carbohydrates, sugars, and alcohol — into triglycerides, stores them in fat cells, and releases them for energy between meals. They are measured as part of a lipid profile (a blood test that looks at several fats at once). High triglycerides often occur alongside high LDL cholesterol and low HDL cholesterol. This combination is a well-recognised metabolic pattern linked to heart disease and stroke risk. It is also a hallmark of insulin resistance (when your cells do not respond to insulin as well as they should) and metabolic syndrome — a cluster of risk factors including high blood sugar, excess weight around the middle, raised blood pressure, and abnormal blood fats.
Why is it tested?
Triglycerides are tested as part of cardiovascular risk screening — particularly in people with diabetes, metabolic syndrome, excess weight, or a family history of heart disease. The test is done fasting (usually 9–12 hours, water only) because a recent meal temporarily raises triglycerides and makes the result harder to interpret. The test also helps your GP see whether lifestyle changes or medicines are having a measurable impact. Fibrates (a class of medication that targets triglycerides directly) and high-dose omega-3 are two treatments that are often checked with a follow-up triglyceride reading.
Reference range (Australia)
This is a treatment target, not a population reference interval — the wider laboratory display range (for example 0–10 mmol/L) is a measurement cap, not a clinical threshold. The test should be collected fasting (9–12 hours). At very high levels (at or above about 10 mmol/L) there is an increased risk of acute pancreatitis. Risk is always interpreted in the context of your full cardiovascular profile; use the interval on your report.
Reference intervals vary between laboratories. Always use the range printed on your own report.
What your result means
A below-range triglyceride level is generally favourable for cardiovascular health and typically reflects a diet lower in refined carbohydrates and excess calories, regular activity, and a healthy weight. No action is usually needed.
A fasting triglyceride below 2.0 mmol/L meets the Australian treatment target and is generally protective. That said, cardiovascular risk is always read alongside your full lipid profile, blood pressure, age, and other factors — a single in-range result does not tell the whole story. Your GP can put all those numbers together to give you a more complete picture.
A result above the 2.0 mmol/L treatment target suggests your body may not be processing dietary fats and carbohydrates as efficiently as it could. Common contributors include a diet high in refined carbohydrates, added sugars, or alcohol. Excess weight and physical inactivity also play a role, as do insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Some people carry a genetic tendency to high triglycerides regardless of lifestyle. High triglycerides usually cause no symptoms but can contribute to plaque build-up in the arteries over time. Your GP will weigh up your overall cardiovascular risk to decide whether lifestyle changes alone or medication is the right next step — worth raising at your next visit.
What can affect your result
Diet is one of the strongest influences: refined carbohydrates, added sugars, and excess alcohol can raise triglycerides noticeably within days. Excess weight (particularly around the middle) and physical inactivity also push them up. Type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance — where your cells do not respond to insulin as well as they should — frequently raise them too. Some medicines lift triglycerides as a side effect, including oestrogen-containing contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy, beta-blockers, and certain antipsychotics. On the other side, fibrates (a type of lipid-lowering medication) and high-dose omega-3 (fish oil) have been linked to lower triglycerides. An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) and kidney disease can raise triglycerides as well. A genetic condition called familial hypertriglyceridaemia means some people have raised levels regardless of lifestyle — and if this runs in your family, it is worth raising with your GP.
When to act
If your fasting triglycerides are above 2.0 mmol/L, your GP will look at your full cardiovascular risk picture and check for underlying causes such as diabetes or metabolic syndrome — a cluster of conditions including high blood sugar, excess weight, and abnormal blood fats that often travel together. First-line management usually focuses on lifestyle: reducing refined carbohydrates, added sugars, and alcohol; moving more; and reaching a healthy weight. If levels stay raised or your overall risk is high, your GP may consider medication. If your triglycerides are very high (at or above about 10 mmol/L), there is an increased risk of acute pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas, which can be sudden and severe), and your GP will treat this as a priority. This page is general information and is not a substitute for advice from your GP.
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