Lipid panel
Triglycerides
Triglycerides are the main form in which the body stores and transports fat for energy. They respond quickly to recent food and alcohol, more so than cholesterol does.
Typical adult reference range
Usually reported as normal below 150 · mg/dL
Ranges vary between laboratories and by age, sex and method. Always read your own result against the range printed on your own report.
What a high result can mean
Raised triglycerides commonly accompany excess weight, high alcohol intake, high sugar or refined carbohydrate intake, poorly controlled diabetes, and some medicines. Very high levels also carry a risk of inflaming the pancreas, which is why they are acted on promptly.
What a low result can mean
Low triglycerides are rarely a concern on their own and can reflect fasting, a very low fat diet, or an overactive thyroid.
What commonly affects this result
What you ate and drank in the 12 to 24 hours before the test, more than almost any other lipid value.
Questions worth asking your doctor
- Was I properly fasted for this, and would that change the number?
- How high is high enough to matter for my pancreas?
- Would rechecking after some dietary changes be reasonable?
See what your own results say
Upload your blood test and get a plain English summary of every value on it, with the questions worth raising at your next appointment.
Analyse my resultsThis page explains what a test measures. It is general information, not medical advice, and it cannot tell you what your own result means. Reference ranges differ between laboratories, and results are only meaningful alongside your history, your symptoms and your other results. Always discuss your results with your doctor.