# Triglycerides test level-high numbers after eating **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 8, 2015, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triglycerides-test-level-high-numbers-after-eating/730367 "2015-09-08T19:08:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triglycerides-test-level-high-numbers-after-eating/730367/1 "2015-09-08T19:08:27Z")
I had some blood work done today and while most of it was clear, my Triglycerides were very high (400 mg/dl range). I am going as scheduled to the doctor I had a very sweet cold coffee about 60 minuets before, and I was surprised the test for Triglycerides was done, I thought the test was only fasting and taking food causes a spike? (Yes, I am going to the doctor anyway and yes I need to cut down on the junk food, just tell me are Triglycerides tests normally done non fasting and do they effect the results)? ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triglycerides-test-level-high-numbers-after-eating/730367/2 "2015-09-08T19:38:21Z")
I am sure that big sugary drink affected your numbers. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triglycerides-test-level-high-numbers-after-eating/730367/3 "2015-09-08T19:56:30Z")
IANAMD, but… 400 is in the high range. It will catch your MD’s attention. I would put more faith in your A1C results, those are more of an average over the past few months. But, you’re planning on a consultation with your MD and that’s the best thing you could do right now with respect to this. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triglycerides-test-level-high-numbers-after-eating/730367/4 "2015-09-08T22:08:22Z")
Triglycerides are a “fat” thing. My guess is zero effect. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triglycerides-test-level-high-numbers-after-eating/730367/5 "2015-09-08T23:21:09Z")
Not only should triglyceride testing be performed in the fasted state, but the fast should be at least 10, and many would say 14, hours. I’m not saying that a level of 400 mg% one hour after eating is normal. It’s just that pretty much all the research, recommendations, prognostic implication, etc., on triglyceride levels has been based on data acquired from people after a ten to fourteen hour fast. IOW, it’s awfully hard to interpret TG results obtained in the post-prandial (i.e. non-fasted) state. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triglycerides-test-level-high-numbers-after-eating/730367/6 "2015-09-09T01:24:37Z")
Screening with a lipid panel is fine non-fasting just so long as one pretty much ignores the triglycerides. LDL, HDL, "non-HDL cholesterol … all are meaningful numbers without a fast. Not an internist but I’d think a 400 non-fasting TG would still raise an eyebrow. And yes also provoke a fasting glucose or HgbA1c due to the association of high triglycerides with insulin resistance and diabetes. On review … I did a quick search regarding non-fasting TG and apparently it is [not completely worthless.](https://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/triglycerides/tab/test/): > [@](#): > > There is increasing interest in measuring triglycerides in people who have not fasted. The reason is that a non-fasting sample may be more representative of the “usual” circulating level of triglyceride since most of the day blood lipid levels reflect post-meal (post-prandial) levels rather than fasting levels. However, it is not yet certain how to interpret non-fasting levels for evaluating risk so, at present, there is no change in the current recommendations for fasting prior to tests for lipid levels. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Vorlon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@The\_Vorlon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Vorlon)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triglycerides-test-level-high-numbers-after-eating/730367/7 "2015-09-09T12:27:24Z")
Could be worse. The wife runs in the 2k range. Causes much attention. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triglycerides-test-level-high-numbers-after-eating/730367/8 "2015-09-09T12:41:21Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > IANAMD, but… 400 is in the high range. It will catch your MD’s attention. > > I would put more faith in your A1C results, those are more of an average over the past few months. But, you’re planning on a consultation with your MD and that’s the best thing you could do right now with respect to this. A1c measures average glucose levels. Completely unrelated to triglycerides. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2015, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triglycerides-test-level-high-numbers-after-eating/730367/9 "2015-09-10T01:03:07Z")
> [@USCDiver](#): > > A1c measures average glucose levels. Completely unrelated to triglycerides. While the clarification that triglycerides is a measure of a kind of fat and HgbA1c is proxy for average blood glucose levels over time, it again must be noted that “completely unrelated” is an overstatement. Elevated triglycerides and elevated blood sugar are both a common result of insulin resistance and therefore commonly travel together. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2015, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triglycerides-test-level-high-numbers-after-eating/730367/10 "2015-09-10T05:23:35Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > While the clarification that triglycerides is a measure of a kind of fat and HgbA1c is proxy for average blood glucose levels over time, it again must be noted that “completely unrelated” is an overstatement. Elevated triglycerides and elevated blood sugar are both a common result of insulin resistance and therefore commonly travel together. Granted. I should’ve clarified I was referring to the lab tests and not the disease processes.