Q. I have slightly high cholesterol (230) but really high triglycerides (348). A friend of mine told me that when he took red yeast rice his cholesterol dropped 50 points but his triglycerides rose.
How important are triglycerides anyway? How can I get them down?
A. Triglycerides (TG) are the way fats get packaged so they can be moved around the body. High TG have long been linked to an increased risk for heart attacks, though they don’t get the same attention as cholesterol.
A new 30-year study from Denmark involving almost 14,000 adults suggests that elevated TG may be more important than cholesterol when it comes to stroke risk (Annals of Neurology, online Feb. 18, 2011).
Although the American Heart Association considers TG levels up to 150 normal, the Danish study found the risk of stroke rose 20 percent when TG went above 90. Your level is high enough to be worrisome.
Ways to lower triglycerides include: reducing carbohydrates, especially sugar; taking fish oil; eating nuts; and losing excess weight. Red yeast rice, which contains natural statins, actually appears to lower triglycerides as well as cholesterol (Circulation, Aug. 24, 2004).
We discuss many other ways to lower cholesterol and triglycerides, including medications such as fibrates or niacin, in our Guide to Cholesterol Control and Heart Health.
1/31/19 redirected to: https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/articles/do-high-triglycerides-pose-a-risk-for-your-heart/
