A Guide to Lowering Triglycerides With or Without Medication

Triglycerides are a type of fat found in the bloodstream. Though they play a key role in providing the body with energy, high triglyceride levels on a blood test are linked to a greater risk for other chronic health conditions, like heart disease and diabetes.

Fortunately, you can lower triglyceride levels naturally with dietary, exercise, and lifestyle changes—plus prescription medication, if necessary.

This article provides an overview of lowering triglyceride levels with and without medication and offers information on healthy triglyceride ranges as well as tips on safely reducing triglyceride levels in children.

Ways to Lower High Triglyceride Levels (Nondrug)

Certain lifestyle tweaks can sometimes help lower triglyceride levels by managing your weight and overall health.

Get Enough Exercise

Regular exercise and physical activity help the body use energy, which can lower triglyceride levels. Experts recommend aerobic exercise activities like running, brisk walking, swimming, or biking.

Aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise per day on most days of the week. Work your way up to 200 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity activities per week.

Eat a Nutritious Diet

Consuming more calories than your body needs to function properly leads your body to store them as fat, which can lead to high triglyceride levels. Experts recommend implementing a healthy, fresh diet to help keep calories under control and offer more nutritional content. Consider incorporating a variety of foods, such as:

• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Whole grains
• Low-fat dairy
• Poultry
• Fish
• Healthy fats, like nuts, seeds, avocado, and olive oil

Lower Sugar Intake

A high sugar intake is connected to high triglyceride levels. Limiting your daily added sugar intake to less than 10% of your total daily calories is recommended for overall health.

To make a positive change in your triglyceride levels, think about reducing your consumption of the following foods, which are high in added and refined sugars:

• Sugary drinks
• Candy
• Baked goods
• Processed foods
• Condiments, such as dressings or sauces

Don't Smoke or Quit Smoking

Research shows that smoking tobacco is linked to higher levels of triglycerides—and the habit also increases the risk of developing heart disease. Quitting smoking comes with numerous health benefits. Check with a healthcare provider if you need assistance with or resources on smoking cessation.

Ways to Lower High Triglyceride Levels (With Medication)

If lifestyle adjustments don't help lower triglycerides after some time, a healthcare provider may recommend prescription medications. These may include fibrates, prescription omega-3 fatty acids, and statins.

Fibrates

Fibrates are a type of medication that can help reduce triglycerides. They can also raise high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels in people with low HDL. You are at greater risk for heart disease and stroke if you have both high triglycerides and low HDL.

Fibrates are only used for adults. Sometimes, fibrates are prescribed in combination with statins.

Fibrates include:

• Lopid (gemfibrozil)
• Antara, Fenoglide, Tricor, Triglide (fenofibrate)
• Fibricor, Trilipix (fenofibric acid)

Prescription Omega-3 Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters

Omega-3 fatty acid ethyl esters are a prescription medication derived from fish oil. They may treat triglyceride levels in a borderline high range.

These prescription medications differ from the omega-3 dietary supplements you find at the drugstore, which are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating high triglyceride levels.

Omega-3 fatty acid ethyl ester medications include the brand names Lovaza and Vascepa.

Statins

Statins are a common treatment for high cholesterol, and healthcare providers often prescribe them to help lower triglyceride levels, too. Research has shown that adding omega-3 fatty acid medication to statins for lowering triglyceride levels can also substantially reduce the risk of stroke.

Statins include:

• Altoprev, Mevacor (lovastatin)
• Crestor (rosuvastatin calcium)
• Lescol (fluvastatin)
• Lipitor (atorvastatin)
• Livalo, Zypitamag (pitavastatin)
• Pravachol (pravastatin)
• Zocor (simvastatin)
  

How to Target Lower Triglyceride Levels in Children

Because high levels of triglycerides are linked with a higher risk of developing heart disease, monitoring them in children is important. In most childhood cases, lifestyle changes will be the main management option recommended by a healthcare provider. This includes tactics such as:

• Encouraging a more active lifestyle and getting more exercise in place of sedentary activities, like using cellphones or tablets
• Offering nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains while limiting foods that are high in saturated fat, trans fat, and sugar
• Helping your child take steps to lose weight if being overweight or obese is a concern

Experts recommend, if possible, including all household members in these changes to help children and teenagers implement them.

If additional tactics other than lifestyle tweaks are necessary, a healthcare provider may offer safe prescription medication options to complement the treatment plan.

Summary

Triglycerides are a type of fat in the blood. When high levels of triglycerides are left untreated, they can increase the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.

Treatment options for high triglyceride levels typically start with lifestyle modifications like getting plenty of exercise, eating a nutritious diet, not smoking, and cutting back on added sugar intake.

If lifestyle measures are not enough, prescription medications may be recommended. These commonly include statins, fibrates, and prescription omega-3 fatty acid ethyl esters. A healthcare provider can help you determine what the best steps are based on your triglyceride blood test results.