

Triglycerides are a combination of three fatty acids or fats (i.e. saturated fat, unsaturated fat or both) combined with glycerol, a form of glucose.
Triglycerides are our main source of energy and as they are so important we have two supplies – one supply from our diet and one supply made in the body by our liver.
When we eat foods containing triglycerides, such as meat, dairy produce, cooking oils and fats, they are absorbed by our intestines and then packaged into particles called lipoproteins, (known as chylomicrons) which carry the triglycerides to our tissues to be used for energy straight away or for storage to be used when they are needed.
The body also makes its own supply of triglycerides in the liver. This form is carried in a different type of lipoprotein known as VLDL.
Measured as part of a “Lipids” blood panel