Consumer
Guide To Fats
Triglycerides and VLDL
Triglyceride is another form in which fat is transported
through the blood to the body tissues. Most of the body's
stored
fat is in the form of triglycerides. Another lipoprotein--very
low-
density lipoprotein, or VLDL--has the job of carrying triglycerides
in the blood. NHLBI considers a triglyceride level below 250
mg/dl
to be normal.
It is not clear whether high levels of triglycerides alone
increase an individual's risk of heart disease. However, they
may
be an important clue that someone is at risk of heart disease
for
other reasons. Many people who have elevated triglycerides
also
have high LDL-cholesterol or low HDL-cholesterol. People with
diabetes or kidney disease--two conditions that increase the
risk
of heart disease--are also prone to high triglycerides.
Government Advice
Dietary guidelines endorsed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services advise
consumers to:
Reduce total dietary fat intake to 30 percent or less of
total calories.
Reduce saturated fat intake to less than 10 percent of calories.
Reduce cholesterol intake to less than 300 milligrams daily.
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