Treatment

While studies about whether lowering triglycerides can measurably reduce the risk of heart disease or events are still ongoing, most experts say it’s best to keep them within the normal range. 

The goal of any treatment program will be to:

1. Lower the amount of triglycerides in the blood
2. Control conditions that can raise triglyceride levels (for example, obesity, diabetes, hypothyroidism, kidney disease) 

The best way to lower triglycerides is by making healthy lifestyle choices, which together can cut triglyceride levels by half! That means reducing triglycerides is largely within your control. 

Talk with your doctor about living healthier by taking these 4 steps:

1. Be more active—regular exercise can lower triglycerides and raise good cholesterol

2. Improve your diet—that means trying to:

• Cut out excess calories by limiting unhealthy fats; dietary fat should only make up 25-35 percent of your total diet
• Eat fiber-rich carbohydrates such as vegetables and whole grains and limit simple carbohydrates (white breads, pasta, potatoes)
• Limit alcohol, which can cause triglycerides to spike in some people
• Eat foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, available in certain fish (salmon, tuna, lake trout, and sardines), fish oil or flaxseed
• Avoid refined sugars

3. Lose weight and stay at a healthy body weight—losing just 5-10 percent of your weight can lower triglycerides

4. Quit smoking and don’t start 

When it comes to lowering triglycerides, lifestyle modifications seem to work well and, in some cases, are as effective as taking medicine for lowering triglycerides. Taking the above steps will help you improve your overall health too.  

In some cases, your doctor may also prescribe medications to lower your triglycerides. These might include: 

• Omega-3 fatty acids – prescription forms of high-dose omega-3 fatty acids that are naturally found in fish can lower triglycerides, but researchers don’t know exactly how yet. There are several FDA-approved omega-3 fatty acid formulations for VHTG; most include both EPA and DHA as active ingredients. These tend to be well tolerated and have been shown to reduce triglycerides by as much as 50 percent.
• Fibrates – medications that work by impairing the liver’s ability to release triglycerides
• Niacin or vitamin B3 – may work by reducing the activity of a chemical needed for the body to produce triglycerides.
• Statins – used to lower LDL cholesterol and may also lower triglycerides 

As always, when taking medications:

• Take them exactly as directed
• Let your health care team know about all of the other medicines you take
• Report any side effects or concerns

*This table does not address all concerns or special considerations. Talk with your doctor about the pros and cons of all medications.

There are many new treatments being investigated as well. For example, there is growing evidence that flaxseed oil may help lower triglycerides in some people. As always, talk with your doctor about the right approach for you.