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Triglycerides in the blood
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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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 |
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