Triglycerides – Understanding Your Blood Test Result

Section Editor: Christopher McCudden Ph.D., DABCC, FADLM, FCACB
October 28, 2026

Triglycerides are the most common type of fat in the body and in the blood. They store energy from food and carry it to muscles and other tissues. Triglycerides are measured as part of a lipid panel. Reports in the United States list them in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), while Canada and most other countries use millimoles per liter (mmol/L).

This article explains what the triglyceride test measures, why a recent meal can change the result so much, and why high triglycerides matter for two very different reasons. It also covers common causes of high triglycerides and what your doctor will likely do next.

The reference range that applies to your result is the one printed on your laboratory report, not the typical ranges shown here. Reference ranges vary between laboratories based on the equipment used, the population tested, and individual factors such as age, sex, and pregnancy status. Always compare your result to the reference range printed on your own report, and discuss any abnormal result with your doctor.

What does the triglyceride test measure?

The triglyceride test measures the total amount of triglyceride fat circulating in your blood. After a meal, the intestine packages fat from food into large particles called chylomicrons, which carry triglycerides into the bloodstream. Between meals, the liver makes its own triglycerides from extra calories, especially from sugar and alcohol, and releases them in smaller particles.

Muscles burn triglycerides for energy, and fat tissue stores whatever is left over. When the body makes more triglycerides than it can use, or clears them too slowly, blood levels rise.

Why triglycerides matter for two different reasons

High triglycerides carry two separate risks, and which one matters depends on how high the level is. Your doctor interprets a triglyceride result with both in mind.

Moderately high triglycerides and heart disease. Levels up to about 500 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L) are common, and the main concern at these levels is the long-term risk of heart attack and stroke. Moderately high triglycerides usually come with other risk factors, so treatment focuses on LDL cholesterol and overall cardiovascular risk.
Very high triglycerides and pancreatitis. At 500 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L) and above, and especially above 1,000 mg/dL (11.3 mmol/L), the concern shifts to acute pancreatitis. This is a painful and sometimes serious inflammation of the pancreas, the organ behind the stomach that helps digest food. At these levels, lowering triglycerides quickly becomes the priority.

This split is reflected in the 2026 guideline from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association. Below 500 mg/dL, it treats cardiovascular risk as the main concern. Above that level, it adds treatment to prevent pancreatitis.

How is the triglyceride test performed?

Triglycerides are measured from a blood sample drawn from a vein, usually as part of the lipid panel. Of all the numbers on a lipid panel, triglycerides are the one most affected by what you ate and drank in the hours before the test. A fatty meal can raise them noticeably for six to eight hours, and alcohol the evening before can raise them too.

For that reason, many laboratories accept a non-fasting sample for routine screening but use a slightly higher cutoff. If a non-fasting result is high, your doctor will often repeat the test after a 10- to 12-hour fast with only water before drawing any conclusion.

Triglycerides also affect other results on the same report. Most laboratories calculate LDL cholesterol rather than measuring it, and the calculation becomes less reliable as triglycerides rise. At very high levels, the blood sample can look milky, which can interfere with several other tests, including sodium, and the laboratory may add a comment saying so.

What do triglyceride results mean?

Your triglyceride result is read against the reference range printed on your own report, and against whether you had fasted. Typical adult categories are approximately:

Normal. Below 150 mg/dL (1.7 mmol/L) on a fasting sample, or below 175 mg/dL (2.0 mmol/L) on a non-fasting sample.
Mild to moderately high. From those cutoffs up to 499 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L). This is very common. It usually reflects everyday factors such as diet, weight, and alcohol rather than a disease of its own.
Severely high. 500 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L) or above. The risk of pancreatitis begins to rise at this level, and your doctor will usually want to recheck and treat it promptly.
Extremely high. Above 1,000 mg/dL (11.3 mmol/L). The risk of pancreatitis is greatest here, and this level often has an inherited cause combined with another factor such as uncontrolled diabetes or alcohol.
A low result. Low triglycerides are generally not a medical concern.

What conditions and factors can affect triglycerides?

Triglycerides respond strongly to day-to-day habits and to several medical conditions. Most high results have more than one cause, and finding them is often the most effective step.

Conditions and factors that can raise triglycerides include:

Recent food and drink. A meal, especially one high in fat or sugar, raises triglycerides for several hours.
Alcohol. Even moderate drinking can raise triglycerides, and heavy drinking can raise them sharply.
Extra body weight and fat in the liver. These go together and are among the most common causes. Fat build-up in the liver is described on our page about steatosis.
Diabetes. Poorly controlled blood sugar is one of the strongest drivers of high triglycerides, and levels often fall as blood sugar improves.
An underactive thyroid gland and kidney disease. Both slow triglyceride clearance from the blood.
Some medications. Estrogen and steroid medications are common examples. Some blood pressure medicines and tamoxifen can also raise triglycerides.
Pregnancy. Triglycerides rise naturally during pregnancy, especially in the third trimester.
Inherited conditions. Some people inherit a tendency to have high triglycerides. A rare inherited condition called familial chylomicronemia syndrome causes extremely high levels from childhood.

Triglycerides usually fall with regular physical activity and weight loss. Cutting back on alcohol and added sugar helps, and medications that lower cholesterol or triglycerides can also help.

What other tests are ordered with triglycerides?

Triglycerides are interpreted alongside the rest of the lipid panel and tests for the conditions that raise them.

LDL and HDL cholesterol. High triglycerides usually come with a low HDL, and LDL remains the main target for heart disease prevention.
Non-HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B. These are more reliable than calculated LDL when triglycerides are high, because they count all the particles that can build up in arteries.
Blood sugar tests—a hemoglobin A1c or fasting glucose check for diabetes, one of the most common causes.
Thyroid, kidney, and liver tests. These look for conditions that raise triglycerides, using thyroid function tests, kidney function tests, and a liver panel.
Lipase. This pancreatic enzyme is measured if very high triglycerides are accompanied by abdominal pain, to check for pancreatitis.

What happens after a triglyceride test?

For a mildly or moderately high triglyceride result, the usual first step is to repeat the test while fasting if you didn’t fast. Your doctor will also look for causes such as alcohol, diet, and blood sugar. Whether you need medication usually depends on your LDL cholesterol and overall cardiovascular risk, not triglycerides alone.

If the result is 500 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L) or higher, the test is usually repeated soon, and treatment focuses on lowering triglycerides to prevent pancreatitis. This often means a very low-fat diet and stopping alcohol, along with better blood sugar control. Doctors usually add medication specifically aimed at triglycerides as well. At these levels, a referral to a dietitian or lipid specialist is common.

Severe pain in the upper abdomen that spreads to the back, especially with nausea or vomiting, can be a sign of pancreatitis. It needs urgent medical care, particularly if your triglycerides are known to be very high.

Questions to ask your doctor

What was my triglyceride level, and what is the reference range at this laboratory?
Was this a fasting or non-fasting sample, and should I repeat it while fasting?
Is my level high enough to raise my risk of pancreatitis?
Could alcohol, my diet, or my weight be raising my triglycerides?
Could diabetes, a thyroid problem, or kidney disease be involved?
Could any of my medications be raising my triglycerides?
Did my LDL cholesterol change with the high triglycerides, and should we check non-HDL cholesterol or apolipoprotein B instead?
Do I need treatment aimed at triglycerides, or at my overall heart risk?
Should I see a dietitian or a lipid specialist?
When should I have my triglycerides checked again?