Triglycerides: Ang Dapat Bantayan sa Iyong Lipid Panel

Posted on by Jesse Santiano, M.D.
Triglyceride play a big factor in atherosclerosis formation
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Triglycerides: The Most Important Number In Your Lipid Panel
Summary
Key Points
Conclusion
Triglycerides ang Dapat Bantayan sa Iyong Lipid Panel
Mahalagang Punto
Konklusyon
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Reference:
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Triglycerides: The Most Important Number In Your Lipid Panel

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Triglycerides: The Most Important Number In Your Lipid Panel

Summary

This article challenges the traditional focus on total cholesterol and LDL as the primary markers of cardiovascular health and argues that triglycerides may be more important, especially in the context of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance.

Key Points

1. Total Cholesterol Is Misleading

  • Total cholesterol includes LDL, HDL, and VLDL. High HDL can inflate total cholesterol even if it’s protective.
  • It doesn’t reflect particle size, oxidation, or function.

2. LDL Isn’t Always “Bad”

  • Small, dense LDL is dangerous; large, fluffy LDL may be neutral.
  • LDL becomes harmful when oxidized, which is driven by inflammation and insulin resistance.

3. HDL Isn’t Always “Good”

  • HDL function matters more than its level.
  • In inflammation or insulin resistance, HDL can become dysfunctional or even harmful.

4. Triglycerides Are the Real Red Flag

  • Elevated triglycerides are linked to:
    • Insulin resistance
    • Type 2 diabetes
    • Fatty liver
    • Small dense LDL (atherogenic)
  • High TG is part of metabolic syndrome diagnostic criteria.

5. Important Ratios and Indices

  • TG/HDL ratio: <2 is ideal; >3.5 indicates insulin resistance.
  • TG/LDL-C ratio: ≥1.1 suggests high risk from small dense LDL.
  • TyG Index (ln[TG × Glucose/2]):
    • ≥8.81 linked to worse COVID-19 outcomes.

6. Better Markers to Track

  • Non-HDL cholesterol: Should be <130 mg/dL.
  • ApoB: Indicates number of atherogenic particles.
  • Remnant cholesterol: >30 mg/dL is high risk.
  • Postprandial triglycerides: Should normalize within 4–6 hours.

7. Causes of High Triglycerides

  • Sugar and refined carbs
  • Alcohol
  • Sedentary lifestyle
  • Visceral fat
  • Insulin resistance
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Certain medications

8. How to Lower Triglycerides

  • Reduce added sugars
  • Eat low-glycemic foods and more fiber
  • Exercise regularly
  • Lose abdominal fat
  • Avoid alcohol
  • Increase omega-3s (fish or supplements)
  • Try intermittent fasting

Conclusion

Triglycerides are powerful markers of metabolic and cardiovascular risk. Unlike the oversimplified focus on LDL and total cholesterol, targeting triglycerides—and their associated ratios—offers a more accurate and actionable path to improving health.

Triglycerides ang Dapat Bantayan sa Iyong Lipid Panel

Ang artikulong ito ay nagtutuwid sa karaniwang paniniwala na ang total cholesterol at LDL ang pinakamahalagang batayan ng kalusugan ng puso. Sa halip, ipinapakita na ang triglycerides ang mas makabuluhang tagapagpahiwatig—lalo na kung may insulin resistance o metabolic syndrome.

Mahalagang Punto

1. Nakalilito ang Total Cholesterol

  • Binubuo ito ng LDL, HDL, at VLDL.
  • Maaaring tumaas ang total cholesterol dahil sa mataas na HDL, kahit ito’y protektibo.
  • Hindi nito ipinapakita kung anong klase o kalidad ng cholesterol.

2. Hindi Laging “Masama” ang LDL

  • Ang maliit at dense na LDL ay mapanganib.
  • Ang malaki at fluffy na LDL ay maaaring hindi delikado.
  • Nagiging mapanganib lang ang LDL kapag ito ay na-oxidize dahil sa inflammation at insulin resistance.

3. Hindi Rin Palaging “Maganda” ang HDL

  • Mas mahalaga ang function ng HDL kaysa sa dami nito.
  • Kapag may inflammation o insulin resistance, maaaring hindi na kapaki-pakinabang ang HDL.

4. Triglycerides ang Tunay na Babala

  • Mataas na triglycerides ay konektado sa:
    • Insulin resistance
    • Type 2 diabetes
    • Fatty liver
    • Maliit at dense na LDL (mapanganib sa puso)
  • Parte rin ito ng metabolic syndrome.

5. Mahahalagang Ratio at Index

  • TG/HDL ratio: Ideal kung <2; delikado kung >3.5.
  • TG/LDL-C ratio: ≥1.1 ay palatandaan ng small dense LDL.
  • TyG Index (ln[TG × Glucose/2]):
    • ≥8.81 ay may kaugnayan sa mas malalang COVID-19 outcomes.

6. Mas Mahuhusay na Sukatan

  • Non-HDL cholesterol: Dapat ay <130 mg/dL.
  • ApoB: Mas eksaktong bilang ng mapanganib na particles.
  • Remnant cholesterol: >30 mg/dL ay mataas ang panganib.
  • Post-meal triglycerides: Dapat bumaba sa normal sa loob ng 4–6 na oras.

7. Mga Dahilan ng Mataas na Triglycerides

  • Mataas na asukal at refined carbs
  • Alak
  • Kawalan ng ehersisyo
  • Visceral fat (taba sa loob ng tiyan)
  • Insulin resistance
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Ilang gamot

8. Paano Pababain ang Triglycerides

  • Bawasan ang asukal at matatamis
  • Kumain ng low-glycemic at high-fiber na pagkain
  • Mag-ehersisyo nang regular
  • Paliitin ang tiyan
  • Iwasan ang alak
  • Kumain ng omega-3 mula sa isda o supplements
  • Subukan ang intermittent fasting

Konklusyon

Ang triglycerides ay mahalagang marker ng panganib sa puso at metabolismo. Mas makabuluhan itong bantayan kaysa total cholesterol o LDL lamang. Sa pagtutok sa triglycerides, makakagawa ng mas epektibong hakbang para sa mas malusog na katawan.

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triglycerides: the most important number in the lipid panel

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Related:

  1. Triglyceride-Glucose Index Predicts Severity of COVID-19
  2. The Triglyceride Glucose Index: A Simple Tool To Prevent Diseases
  3. The Triglyceride HDL Ratio Detects Insulin Resistance And Predicts Diseases
  4. Trigger Finger and Its Alarming Relationship with High Blood Sugar
  5. Postprandial Glucose And Kidney Health: The Silent Connection
  6. High Blood Sugar Effects: Impact On Hair Color And Growth
  7. High Blood Sugar and Vision: A Guide for Everyone
  8. High blood sugar damages the arteries and changes the immune system.
  9. A Tool Box of Strategies to Prevent Blood Sugar Spikes When Eating High Glycemic Index Foods
  10. A High One hour After-Meal Blood Sugar Test can Lead to Several Deadly Conditions
  11. A surprising reason why people get heart attacks
  12. After-meal high blood sugar predicts Atherosclerosis better than fasting blood sugar and HbA1c
  13. After-meal blood sugar spikes as a cause of vascular failure
  14. Veggies Meat Carbohydrate Sequence Prevents After Meal Sugar Spike
  15. A Healthy Lifestyle is as effective as Voglibose and Nateglinide in Lowering 10-Year Cardiac Mortality
  16. The Shocking Truth About Spike Proteins, Sugar And Inflammation
  17. 102 Easy Ways to Lower Post-Prandial Blood Sugar Without Meds
  18. The Simple Way To Keep Blood Sugar Low: Breakfast
  19. Meal Timing: A Practical Guide To Weight Loss And Better Health
  20. 18 Powerful Strategies To Prevent Blood Sugar Spikes During The Holidays
  21. Applying The Best Behavior Change Techniques At Home For Better Health
  22. The Blood Sugar-Lowering and Metabolic Effects of Vinegar
  23. Ways to Lower After-Meal Blood Sugar when Eating White Bread

Reference:

  1. En X et al. (2016) Association between Triglyceride to HDL-C Ratio (TG/HDL-C) and Insulin Resistance in Chinese Patients with Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. PLoS ONE 11(4): e0154345. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0154345
  2. Ouchi G, Komiya I, Taira S, Wakugami T, Ohya Y. Triglyceride/low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol ratio is the most valuable predictor for increased small, dense LDL in type 2 diabetes patients. Lipids Health Dis. 2022;21(1):4. Published 2022 Jan 7. doi:10.1186/s12944-021-01612-8
  3. Chang Y, Jeon J, Song TJ, Kim J. Association of triglyceride-glucose index with prognosis of COVID-19: A population-based study. J Infect Public Health. 2022 Jun 24;15(8):837-844. doi: 10.1016/j.jiph.2022.06.014. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35779467; PMCID: PMC9225941.

Image credits:

  • Endothelium and LDL By Rfch – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4596470
  • Atherosclerosis – By Manu5 – http://www.scientificanimations.com/wiki-images/, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=67489698

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