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Several medical conditions 
are associated with severe hypertriglyceridemia (sHTG)

Diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance

Diabetes can be a secondary cause of sHTG.2

Improved glycemic control can reduce TG levels, especially in patients with sHTG and poor glycemic control.2

Metabolic syndrome and obesity

Metabolic syndrome is diagnosed by the presence of three or more 
of the following39:

Abdominal pain icon

Abdominal obesity, defined by waist circumference

High triglycerides icon

High triglycerides

Low HDL cholesterol icon

Low HDL cholesterol

High blood pressure icon

High blood pressure

High fasting glucose icon

High fasting glucose

Thus, sHTG is a component of the metabolic syndrome.

Lifestyle modifications addressing other components of the metabolic syndrome, especially abdominal obesity and high fasting glucose, may help reduce TG levels.2

Excessive alcohol consumption

Reduction or avoidance of alcohol consumption is recommended for reducing TG levels.4,23,31

The response to alcohol varies, but some individuals with high alcohol consumption exhibit up to 80% reductions in TG levels by avoiding alcohol consumption.4

Alcohol consumption icon
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REFERENCES

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  2. Virani SS, Morris PB, Agarwala A, et al. 2021 ACC Expert Consensus Decision Pathway on the Management of ASCVD Risk Reduction in Patients With Persistent Hypertriglyceridemia: A Report of the American College of Cardiology Solution Set Oversight Committee. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2021.
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