Triglycerides: the normal range and what high levels mean

Triglyceride levels chart

Triglycerides are measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) on a lipid panel. These are the categories used by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and MedlinePlus (NHLBI) (MedlinePlus):

The same four categories go back to the 2001 National Cholesterol Education Program report (ATP III) (NCEP ATP III). To convert mg/dL to mmol/L, divide by 88.57.

Children and teens: NHLBI gives under 90 mg/dL as healthy for ages 10 to 19 (NHLBI). MedlinePlus notes that guidelines for children differ from adults and suggests asking your child's provider about the result (MedlinePlus).

What high triglycerides mean

High triglycerides usually cause no symptoms (NHLBI). That is why they are found on a blood test, not by how you feel.

• Borderline high and high: levels that stay above 175 mg/dL without fasting for a long time can raise the risk of heart problems, according to NHLBI (NHLBI). High triglycerides together with high LDL or low HDL cholesterol add to that risk (MedlinePlus).
• Very high (over 500 mg/dL): raises the risk of acute pancreatitis, a sudden swelling of the pancreas. It can also change how the blood vessels in the eye look (lipemia retinalis) and cause skin changes (NHLBI).
• Extremely high (over 1,500 mg/dL): NHLBI says this can stop the body from breaking down fats, a condition called multifactorial chylomicronemia syndrome (NHLBI).

High triglycerides are also one of the five parts of metabolic syndrome. Check yours with the metabolic syndrome criteria checker.

What raises triglycerides

NHLBI says up to 1 in 4 adults have high blood triglycerides (NHLBI). Common causes and risk factors (NHLBI) (MedlinePlus):

• Health conditions: overweight or obesity, diabetes that is not well controlled, kidney disease, liver disease and thyroid disease.
• Habits: not getting enough exercise, eating a lot of foods high in fat, sugar and simple carbohydrates, and drinking too much alcohol.
• Medicines: some used for breast cancer, HIV and, less often and usually mildly, high blood pressure.
• Genes: inherited conditions that stop the body from breaking down fats. NHLBI also lists people of South Asian ancestry living in the United States as at higher risk.

How often to test, and fasting

Triglycerides are part of a standard lipid panel. MedlinePlus suggests a first test between ages 9 and 11, then every 5 years for children and younger adults, every 1 to 2 years for men aged 45 to 65 and women aged 55 to 65, and every year after 65 (MedlinePlus). You may be asked to fast for 9 to 12 hours before the test (MedlinePlus).

How to lower triglycerides

NHLBI lists heart-healthy eating, regular physical activity, reaching a healthy weight, managing stress, quitting smoking, getting enough good-quality sleep and limiting alcohol. If levels are very high, a provider may advise stopping alcohol altogether (NHLBI).

Medicines include fibrates, prescription omega-3 fatty acids (which are not the same as omega-3 supplements), statins and ezetimibe. Very high levels may need more than one (NHLBI).

Common questions

What is a normal triglyceride level?

Under 150 mg/dL for adults (NHLBI).

Is 200 mg/dL high for triglycerides?

Yes. 200 to 499 mg/dL is in the high range (NHLBI).

What about the triglyceride to HDL ratio?

You can divide triglycerides by HDL, and some people do, but none of the sources used on this page sets a target for that ratio, so we do not give one. Your triglycerides and HDL each have their own ranges.

Do triglycerides change my LDL result?

They can. Most labs calculate LDL from total cholesterol, HDL and triglycerides, and the older Friedewald equation is not used when triglycerides are 400 mg/dL or more. See the LDL calculator, which also shows the Sampson equation built for higher levels.

Also see cholesterol levels by age, fatty liver disease and the heart risk calculator.