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The role of triglycerides in cardiovascular risk

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Abstract

Triglycerides’ role in coronary heart disease (CHD) risk assessment has long been debated. Although meta-analyses have suggested that triglycerides are an independent risk factor for CHD, a consensus has emerged that triglycerides more appropriately represent a biomarker of CHD risk rather than an independent risk factor. Ongoing studies will determine whether triglyceride lowering confers additional CHD benefit beyond that attained via low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol reduction. The American Diabetes Association presently recommends lowering elevated triglycerides as a secondary therapeutic target after LDL cholesterol, whereas other organizations, such as the National Cholesterol Education Program, recommend non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol as the second priority after attaining the LDL cholesterol goal. However, reducing very high triglycerides (ie, > 500 mg/dL) remains a sufficiently high priority in affected individuals.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Medicine, Epidemiology, and Preventive Medicine, University of Maryland Hospital, Division of Cardiology, Room S3B06, 22 South Greene Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA

    Michael Miller

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  1. Puneet Gandotra
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Correspondence to Michael Miller.

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Gandotra, P., Miller, M. The role of triglycerides in cardiovascular risk. Curr Cardiol Rep 10, 505–511 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11886-008-0079-0

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