High Triglycerides: What Your Result Means
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera, MD
Licensed Physician No. 484814280 · Official Medical College of Bizkaia (Spain)Last reviewed: 31 October 2026
High triglycerides on a blood test: normal levels in mg/dL and mmol/L, common causes, when a result is too high and how to bring it down.
You don't have to figure this out alone
Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera is an independent, bilingual GP licensed in Spain. Book a 15-minute video consultation in English or Spanish for €50, with a private electronic prescription issued under Spanish law when clinically appropriate.
High triglycerides mean there is more fat of this type in your blood than is ideal. A healthy level is under 150 mg/dL, or 1.7 mmol/L. A mild rise is common and often comes from alcohol, sugar, extra weight or a meal before the test. Very high levels can harm the pancreas and need a prompt check.
- Healthy: under 150 mg/dL (1.7 mmol/L). High: 200 mg/dL or more. Very high: 500 mg/dL or more.
- Spanish labs report in mg/dL. UK labs use mmol/L. To convert mmol/L to mg/dL, multiply by about 88.5.
- Common causes are alcohol, sugary food and drinks, extra weight, type 2 diabetes and an underactive thyroid.
- Raised levels add to heart and stroke risk. Very high levels can cause pancreatitis.
- Lifestyle changes work well. Some people also need medicine, chosen by their overall heart risk.
Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera is a GP licensed in Spain (Colegiado No. 484814280).
For a medical emergency, call 112 or go to the nearest local emergency department. Do not wait for a video consultation or an online reply.
What is a normal triglyceride level?
Triglycerides are the most common type of fat in your body. They store spare energy from food. MedlinePlus and Mayo Clinic use the same bands for adults:
- Healthy: under 150 mg/dL (under 1.7 mmol/L).
- Borderline high: 150 to 199 mg/dL (1.7 to 2.2 mmol/L).
- High: 200 to 499 mg/dL (2.3 to 5.6 mmol/L).
- Very high: 500 mg/dL or more (5.7 mmol/L or more).
Children and teens have different limits, so a child's result needs their own doctor's reading.
How do Spanish, UK and US reports differ?
The test is the same, but the units are not. Spanish and US labs show triglycerides in mg/dL. UK labs show mmol/L. On a Spanish report, look for triglicéridos, sometimes shortened to TG. A raised level is called hipertrigliceridemia.
The European guidelines (ESC/EAS) set no treatment target. They say a level under 1.7 mmol/L means lower risk. A higher level is a reason to look at your other risk factors. So a result of 180 mg/dL in Spain is the same as about 2.0 mmol/L in the UK.
Do you need to fast before a triglyceride test?
It depends on where you are tested. NICE, the UK guideline body, says a full lipid profile does not need a fasting sample. The European guidelines agree for routine checks. They note that a meal raises triglycerides by about 0.3 mmol/L (27 mg/dL) on average.
MedlinePlus says US labs may still ask for 9 to 12 hours without food. Many labs in Spain also ask you to come fasting (en ayunas). If your first result is high, a fasting repeat is the usual next step.
What causes high triglycerides?
Often it is more than one thing. Mayo Clinic and MedlinePlus list these causes:
- Eating more calories than you burn, mostly from sugar and white flour.
- Alcohol. Mayo Clinic says it has a strong effect on triglycerides.
- Extra weight, metabolic syndrome, prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.
- An underactive thyroid, kidney disease or liver disease.
- Some medicines, such as water pills, oestrogen, steroids, retinoids, beta blockers and some HIV medicines.
- Rare family conditions that raise blood fats.
Do not stop a prescribed medicine because of a blood test. Ask the doctor first.
Are high triglycerides dangerous?
A raised level can add to the hardening of your arteries. Over years, this raises the risk of a heart attack and stroke. The European guidelines add that much of this risk shows up in non-HDL cholesterol too. That is why the doctor reads your whole lipid panel, not one line.
Very high levels are a different problem. They can inflame the pancreas. MedlinePlus says triglyceride-related pancreatitis happens most often above 1,000 mg/dL (about 11 mmol/L).
Got a high triglyceride result and not sure what to do?
You can book a video visit with a GP licensed in Spain, in English or Spanish. He reads your full report, asks about your health and habits, and explains the next steps.
When is a triglyceride level too high?
NICE gives clear steps in mmol/L. We add the rough mg/dL figure you would see in Spain:
- 4.5 to 9.9 mmol/L (about 400 to 880 mg/dL): the doctor works on your other heart risks. Standard risk scores may underrate your risk at this level.
- 10 to 20 mmol/L (about 885 to 1,770 mg/dL): repeat a fasting test within two weeks and look for causes. Seek specialist advice if it stays over 10.
- Over 20 mmol/L (about 1,770 mg/dL): urgent specialist review, unless alcohol or poorly controlled diabetes explains it.
A very high result also stops the lab from working out your LDL cholesterol with the usual formula. The European guidelines put that limit at 4.5 mmol/L (400 mg/dL).
How can you lower your triglycerides?
Lifestyle changes are the first step for almost everyone. Mayo Clinic suggests:
- Cut down on alcohol. Stop it fully if your level is very high.
- Cut back on sugar, sweet drinks and white flour.
- Lose some weight if you carry extra.
- Be active for at least 30 minutes on most days.
- Choose olive oil, nuts and oily fish over fatty meat. Avoid trans fats.
If you have diabetes or a thyroid problem, treating it can lower triglycerides too.
Will you need medicine?
Not always. The choice depends on your overall heart risk, your LDL cholesterol and how high the triglycerides are. Mayo Clinic lists statins, fibrates and prescription omega-3 among the options. Over-the-counter fish oil may not work as well. Our cholesterol care page explains how a doctor plans this.
What happens next?
- Borderline result after a meal or a drink: often a fasting repeat in a few weeks.
- High result: a review of alcohol, diet, weight, sugar and thyroid tests, plus your heart risk.
- Very high result: a repeat soon, and a specialist if it stays high.
Call 112 if you have sudden, severe pain in the upper belly that spreads to your back, with vomiting or fever. This can be pancreatitis.
Talking it through with a doctor by video
Dr. Yelamo is a GP licensed in Spain. He sees adults, children and pregnant patients by video, every day from 07:30 to 20:30 (Spain time). In the visit he will:
- Read your whole lipid panel, sugar, liver, kidney and thyroid results.
- Ask about alcohol, diet, activity and the medicines you take.
- Explain your heart risk in plain words.
- Tell you whether you need a repeat test, treatment or a specialist.
He does not promise any test or prescription before the visit. Where clinically appropriate, following a genuine evaluation. Treatment and prescriptions are issued solely at the doctor's discretion based on evidence-based clinical guidelines.
A prescription is never guaranteed: it is issued only where clinically appropriate after a genuine evaluation, as a private electronic prescription under Spanish law. This service is for urgent, non-emergency care. In an emergency, call 112.
See how the Urgent Care video visit works. It lasts 15 minutes and costs €50.
This guide is general information. It does not replace a consultation with your doctor.
Frequently asked questions
What is a normal triglyceride level?
For adults, under 150 mg/dL, which is under 1.7 mmol/L. Borderline high is 150 to 199 mg/dL. High is 200 mg/dL or more.
Is 200 mg/dL of triglycerides bad?
It counts as high. It adds to heart risk but is not an emergency. A doctor will usually repeat it fasting and look at alcohol, diet, weight and blood sugar.
What triglyceride level is dangerous?
Levels from 500 mg/dL (5.7 mmol/L) are very high. Pancreatitis is most often linked to levels above 1,000 mg/dL. UK guidance asks for urgent specialist review above 20 mmol/L.
Can one meal or a drink raise triglycerides?
Yes. A recent meal raises them a little, and alcohol can raise them a lot. A fasting repeat helps if the first result is high.
How do I convert triglycerides from mmol/L to mg/dL?
Multiply the mmol/L figure by about 88.5. So 1.7 mmol/L is about 150 mg/dL, and 2.3 mmol/L is about 200 mg/dL.
How can I lower my triglycerides?
Cut down on alcohol, sugar and white flour, lose extra weight and stay active. Mayo Clinic says alcohol has a strong effect on triglycerides. Some people also need medicine.
Sources
- MedlinePlus: Triglycerides test
- Mayo Clinic: Triglycerides, why do they matter?
- NICE NG238: Cardiovascular disease risk assessment and lipid modification
- 2019 ESC/EAS Guidelines for the management of dyslipidaemias
- MedlinePlus: Acute pancreatitis
Related guides
Medical Citations & Sources
This content is written and reviewed by a licensed physician with reference to the following official health authorities.
