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Triglycerides

Key facts

  • Triglycerides are the most common type of fat found in foods.
  • Triglycerides are used as a source of energy for your body — if you consume more kilojoules than you use, they are stored in your body as fat cells.
  • You are more likely to have high triglyceride levels if you are living with obesity, eat foods high in fat or sugar, or have a medical condition such as poorly managed diabetes.
  • You can lower your triglyceride levels by including healthy fats in your diet and maintaining a healthy weight.
  • Medicines such as statins and fibrates can be used to manage your triglyceride levels — make sure you follow your doctors' instructions when taking medicines for high triglyceride levels.

What are triglycerides?

Triglycerides are the most common type of fat in foods. When you eat, your body's cells use triglycerides for energy. If you eat more kilojoules than you use, your body stores unused triglycerides in your fat cells.

Your triglyceride levels are usually measured as part of a lipid test, also known as a cholesterol blood test.

Read about other types of dietary fats.

How are triglycerides connected to cholesterol?

Cholesterol is another type of fat that is less common than triglycerides. It's found in some foods and is also produced naturally by your body.

Cholesterol has many uses in your body, including:

The 2 most common types of cholesterol are:

  • High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol — this is known as 'good' cholesterol. HDL helps remove cholesterol from your arteries by carrying it to your liver to be broken down.
  • Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol — this is known as 'bad' cholesterol. LDL leaves cholesterol in your arteries which can prevent blood from flowing properly to your heart. LDL is the most common type of cholesterol.

Triglycerides are carried through your blood by HDL and LDL. If you have high levels of triglycerides as well as a high LDL level or a low HDL level, you have a higher chance of fat building up in your blood vessels. This increases your chance of having a heart attack or a stroke.

Why do I have high triglycerides?

You are more likely to have high levels of triglycerides if you:

Some medical conditions can cause high levels of triglycerides, including:

You may also be more likely to have high triglyceride levels during pregnancy, particularly in the third trimester (Opens in new tab).

What can happen to me if I have high triglycerides?

If you have high levels of triglycerides, you may be at a higher risk of:

How do I measure my triglyceride levels?

Your doctor can measure your triglyceride levels with a blood test. This is usually part of a lipid test, which measures cholesterol and other fats in your blood.

If your doctor recommends a fasting lipid test, you will be instructed to fast (not eat) for 9 to 12 hours before your blood test. This is because after you eat, the amount of triglycerides in your blood is higher. You are allowed to drink water while you are fasting.

Australian guidelines recommend that your triglyceride levels should be below 2.0 mmol/L.

Talk to your doctor about your results and what to do if your triglyceride levels are high.

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When should I get my triglyceride levels checked?

If you are aged 45 years or older, you should have your cholesterol and triglycerides checked every 5 years. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people should start regular triglyceride checks from the age of 35.

All Australians in these groups are eligible for a regular 20-minute heart health check with their doctor. This includes a check of your:

Your doctor can use your results to work out your risk of having a heart attack or stroke in the next 5 years.

It's also important to check your triglyceride levels if you:

  • are living with diabetes
  • have a family history of high cholesterol

How can I lower my triglycerides?

Lifestyle changes

Here are some lifestyle changes that can help lower your triglyceride levels:

Preparing for an appointment? See our tips on questions to ask your doctor.

Medicines for high triglycerides

If you are unable to reduce your triglyceride levels with lifestyle changes alone, or your triglyceride levels are very high, your doctor may prescribe medicines such as:

  • statins — these are medicines that help lower LDL cholesterol levels in your blood
  • fibrates — these are medicines that help lower triglyceride levels in your blood

Your doctor may also recommend that you take a fish oil supplement.

Resources and support

The Heart Foundation (Opens in new tab) page has numerous resources including:

Learn more about testing your triglyceride levels (Opens in new tab) on the Pathology Tests Explained (Opens in new tab) page.

Visit Diabetes Australia (Opens in new tab) to:

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Last reviewed: March 2026

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Complementary Medicines and Therapies: Options for Menopausal Symptoms | Fact Sheet | Australasian Menopause Society Hub

Download: Complementary Medicines and Therapies: Options for Menopausal Symptoms  | Fact Sheet MAIN POINTSComplementary medicine is used to describe a wide range of healthcare medicines, therapies (forms of treatment that do not involve medicines) and other products that are not generally considered as part of conventional medicine.Some complementary medicines may help with mild symptoms, but overall more evidence is needed.To assure safety, ideally complementary medicines should be prescribed by a health professional trained in their use.Always inform your doctor if you are using complementary medicines, and ensure your health practitioner has checked for any interactions that might affect other medications.Avoid buying online products – their safety cannot be guaranteed.Bioidentical compounded hormone therapies cannot be recommended because their safety is unknown.No complementary medicine is as effective as oestrogen therapy for menopausal symptoms.Complementary medicine and therapies (CM&T) is a broad term used to describe a wide range of health care medicines, therapies and other products that are not generally considered as part of conventional medicine (National Health and Medical Research Council). Some women think about using CM&T to manage their menopausal symptoms because they do not want to use prescribed medications or are unable to use them. If you are thinking about using CM&T, ask your doctor if it will affect other medications you might be taking. Some CM&T are promoted as natural and safe with little evidence the therapy works. Often there is no way to know if CM&T are safe or uncontaminated, especially if bought online. Your doctor can help you to understand the benefits and risks of a CM&T. The table provides a summary of commonly used CM&T for menopausal symptoms.The traffic light colours indicate:Red - Do not use (insufficient evidence that it works and/or safety concerns)Orange -  Use with caution (may work but safety concerns)Green - OK to use (some evidence that it works and safe for most women)Medicine/TherapySymptomCommentsRec'n*Botanical/herbal/Vitamin supplementsVitamin EHot flushesVitamin E can decrease the number of hot flushes by 1-2 per day.St John’s WortMood symptoms Can improve mood and may help with mild depression. This therapy interacts with many prescription medicines.Soy isoflavones or phyto-oestrogensMenopausal symptomsMay help hot flushes. Not helpful for sleep. Wild yam cream or progesterone creamEndometrial (lining of the uterus) protectionNo evidence that it is effective.Red cloverMenopausal symptomsCan slightly reduce the frequency of hot flushes. Post menopausal women may see a greater reduction.Omega-3 supplementsHot flushesNo evidence that effective for menopausal symptoms but can lower high triglycerides.Black cohoshMenopausal symptomsThere are different forms of Black Cohosh and some extracts (isopropanolic) may be beneficial. There are possible safety concerns.Evening primrose oilHot flushesNo evidence that it is effective.AshwagandhaMenopausal symptomsInsufficient evidence of benefit and concerns for gastrointestinal and liver side effects.Mind-body therapiesAcupunctureHot flushesMay be effective at reducing frequency and severity of hot flush versus a placebo, but not compared to sham acupuncture.Cognitive behavioural therapy Menopausal symptomsCan help some women with menopausal symptoms (sleep/ hot flushes/mood).HypnosisMenopausal symptomsHypnosis might be helpful for some women.YogaMenopausal symptomsYoga might be helpful for some women.HomeopathyMenopausal symptomsNo evidence that is it effective.OtherBioidentical compounded hormone therapyMenopausal symptomsDo not take it if you can’t take prescribed menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) or hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for safety reasons.* Rec'n = Recommendation
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Learn more on Australasian Menopause Society website

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