Serum Triglycerides (TG)
Triglycerides are the primary circulating form of stored energy, packaged into chylomicrons in the intestine and VLDL particles in the liver. Fasting elevations serve as a direct hallmark of hepatic insulin resistance.
Standard vs. Optimal Reference Rangesmg/dL
Standard reference intervals represent the statistical 95% distribution of unselected commercial populations. Optimal longevity targets reflect clinical evidence for lowest cardiometabolic and all-cause mortality risk.
Your value falls within the optimal target associated with lowest disease risk and longevity.
< 150 mg/dL
General reference distribution across unselected commercial populations.
< 80 mg/dL (Fasting)
Concentration target associated with minimal all-cause cardiometabolic mortality.
Molecular Mechanism & Clinical Purpose
Excess carbohydrate and free fatty acid flux to hepatocytes stimulates de novo lipogenesis, driving large VLDL1 secretion. Hydrolysis by lipoprotein lipase (LPL) produces triglyceride-rich remnant lipoproteins that penetrate arterial endothelium and initiate atheroma formation.
Differential Diagnosis
Elevated Levels (TG High)
- •Familial hypertriglyceridemia (LPL deficiency / APOC2 mutation)
- •Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)
- •Uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
- •Acute pancreatitis risk (>500-1000 mg/dL)
Low Levels (TG Low)
- •Malnutrition and malabsorption
- •Hyperthyroidism
- •Extreme dietary fat restriction
Technical Reference & Deep Dive
Biochemistry & Enzymatic Pathways
Longevity Risk Architecture & Epidemiology
Pre-Analytical Caveats & Diagnostic Workup
Pre-Analytical Considerations:
Standard testing requires a 10 to 12 hour overnight fast to minimize postprandial chylomicron interference, although TG direct immunoassay is less sensitive to prandial state than calculated LDL-C. Avoid strenuous high-intensity exercise 24 hours prior to blood draw. Serum separator tubes (SST) or EDTA plasma should be centrifuged within 2 hours. High-dose biotin (>5 mg/day) supplementation may interfere with competitive streptavidin-biotin immunoassays, requiring a 48-hour washout period.
Reflexive Testing Protocol:
- Advanced Lipoprotein Particle Quantification (NMR spectroscopy or ion mobility LDL-P)
- Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] baseline evaluation for genetic cardiovascular risk stratification
- Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) score via non-contrast cardiac CT to evaluate calcified plaque burden
- High-sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP) to assess systemic vascular inflammatory tone
- Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) duplex ultrasound to assess subclinical atherosclerosis
Clinical Citations & Primary Literature (1)
- [1]Triglyceride-Rich Lipoproteins and Residual Risk of Cardiovascular Disease - Circulation (2021). PMID: 33939504
Associated Longevity Guides & Clinical Calculators
Medicine 3.0Explore comprehensive evidence-based clinical protocols, testing costs, and algorithmic calculators that incorporate Serum Triglycerides (TG) into overall healthspan optimization.