Triglycerides are a type of fat found in the blood, serving as a primary energy source. While high triglyceride levels are a known health concern, low levels can also occur. Understanding what low triglycerides signify is important for recognizing potential underlying health considerations.
Understanding Triglycerides
Triglycerides are a form of fat your body uses for energy. When you consume calories, particularly from carbohydrates and fats, excess energy is converted into triglycerides. These are stored in fat cells and later released by hormones to provide energy between meals. They are transported in the blood as part of lipoproteins. A lipid panel, a common blood test, measures triglyceride levels along with different types of cholesterol.
What Low Levels Mean
A low triglyceride level refers to a measurement below the typical normal range. For adults, a fasting triglyceride level below 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) is considered normal. Some sources consider levels below 50 mg/dL to be low, while others indicate very low levels under 40 mg/dL or 35 mg/dL. Triglyceride levels are measured with a fasting blood test, requiring 8 to 12 hours of no food or drink beforehand to ensure accuracy.
Why Triglyceride Levels Might Be Low
Several medical and lifestyle factors can lead to low triglyceride levels. Malnutrition or malabsorption conditions, where the body struggles to absorb nutrients, can result in low triglycerides due to insufficient fat or carbohydrates. This can occur due to restrictive diets, calorie restriction, or disorders affecting fat absorption like celiac disease or Crohn’s disease.
An overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) can also cause low triglycerides, as accelerated metabolism increases energy consumption. Certain medications, such as statins and fibrates, may reduce triglyceride levels as a side effect.
Severe liver disease can impair the liver’s ability to produce triglycerides. Rare inherited disorders affecting fat metabolism, such as abetalipoproteinemia and familial hypobetalipoproteinemia, are genetic causes of extremely low or absent triglyceride levels. Very low-fat diets can also contribute to reduced triglyceride levels.
Addressing Low Triglycerides
While high triglyceride levels are a recognized cardiovascular concern, abnormally low levels are less common and typically do not pose a direct threat. However, persistently low triglycerides can indicate an underlying health issue requiring investigation. Symptoms are often indirect, stemming from the underlying cause, and may include fatigue, weakness, or difficulty concentrating.
If low levels are detected, further medical evaluation is needed to identify the root cause. This may involve tests such as thyroid or liver function tests, nutritional assessments, or genetic testing if inherited disorders are suspected.
Management primarily focuses on addressing the identified underlying condition. For example, dietary adjustments may be recommended for malnutrition or malabsorption, or medication for an overactive thyroid. Professional medical advice is essential for interpreting triglyceride levels and determining the appropriate course of action.