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Triglycerides in the blood

 
Author: Alexey Portnov, family doctor
Date created: 02.03.2011
Last reviewed: 27.10.2025

Triglycerides, or neutral fats, are esters of the trihydric alcohol glycerol and higher fatty acids. Triglycerides enter the body with food (exogenous triglycerides) and are synthesized in the body (endogenous triglycerides). The latter are formed in the liver mainly from carbohydrates. Triglycerides are the main form of fatty acid accumulation in the body and the main source of energy in humans.

In clinical practice, the concentration of triglycerides in the blood is determined mainly to identify and type dyslipoproteinemia (DLP).

Reference values for serum triglyceride concentrations

Serum triglyceride concentration

Age, years

Mg/dl

Mmol/l

Men

Women

Men

Women

0-5

6-11

12-15

16-19

20-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

30-86

31-108

36-138

40-163

44-185

49-284

56-298

62-288

32-99

35-114

41-138

40-128

40-128

38-160

44-186

55-247

0.34-0.97

0.35-1.22

0.41-1.56

0.45-1.84

0.50-2.09

0.55-3.21

0.63-3.37

0.70-3.25

0.36-1.12

0.40-1.29

0.46-1.56

0.45-1.45

0.45-1.45

0.43-1.81

0.50-2.10

0.62-2.79

>60

The values are decreasing slightly