Triglycerides
Episodes
Dr. Rhonda Patrick explores collagen peptides, high-dose niacin and vitamin B6, avoiding nano- and microplastics in her latest Q&A.
In this clip, Dr. Dominic D'Agostino discusses how ketones affect exercise performance.
In this clip, Dr. Krauss talks about LDL numbers that are considered high risk.
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Dr. Rhonda Patrick explores collagen peptides, high-dose niacin and vitamin B6, avoiding nano- and microplastics in her latest Q&A.
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In this clip, Dr. Dominic D'Agostino discusses how ketones affect exercise performance.
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In this clip, Dr. Krauss talks about LDL numbers that are considered high risk.
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In this clip, Dr. Eran Elinav describes research suggesting that the microbiome modulates fatty acid metabolism.
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In this clip, Dr. Bill Harris describes his early research using high doses of omega-3 fatty acids, which uncovered their surprising effects on triglycerides.
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Aging Nutrition Cancer Podcast Fasting Multiple Sclerosis Autophagy Video Triglycerides Fatty Liver Time-Restricted Eating ProteinDr. Guido Kroemer discusses immunology, cancer biology, calorie-restriction mimetics, aging, and autophagy.
Topic Pages
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Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs)
Fructose-rich SSBs accelerate hepatic de novo lipogenesis, augmenting very-low-density lipoprotein secretion and raising plasma triglycerides.
News & Publications
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Insomnia, hypertension and smoking, but not high triglyceride levels, are considered possible risk factors for brain aneurysm rupture. www.sciencedaily.com
From the article:
Data from several genome-wide association studies were used to gauge genetic associations to lifestyle and cardiometabolic risk factors. […] According to the analysis:
-A genetic predisposition for insomnia was associated with a 24% increased risk for intracranial aneurysm and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
-The risk for intracranial aneurysm was about three times higher for smokers vs. non-smokers.
-The risk for intracranial aneurysm was almost three times higher for each 10 mm Hg increase in diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number in a blood pressure reading).
-High triglyceride levels and high BMI did not demonstrate an increased risk for intracranial aneurysm and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
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Fructose-containing beverages increase free fatty acid production in the liver, a marker of metabolic disease risk. www.sciencedaily.com
Metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), represent a major public health burden. Dietary factors such as excess sugar intake are associated with greater metabolic disease risk; however, it is unclear how different types of sugars (e.g., glucose, fructose, or sucrose) differentially impact metabolic health. In this report, researchers investigated the effects of sugar-sweetened beverages on fatty acid synthesis, blood triglycerides, and hepatic insulin resistance in healthy males.
Following the consumption of glucose, the pancreas secretes insulin into the bloodstream so that insulin-sensitive organs such as the liver, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue can transport glucose into their cells. Excess sugars are converted to fats in the liver via a process called de novo lipogenesis and then stored in adipose tissue; however, as fat levels in adipose tissue rise (i.e., overweight and obesity), fat accumulates in the liver leading to the development of NAFLD. Fructose, the main sweetener found in sugar-sweetened beverages, does not require insulin to be absorbed and is preferentially taken up by the liver, accelerating NAFLD development independent of weight gain.
The authors recruited 94 healthy lean males (average age, 23 years) and assigned them to consume beverages sweetened with moderate amounts of either glucose, fructose, or sucrose (a sugar that contains both glucose and fructose) in addition to their normal diet for seven weeks. The beverages contained an amount of sugar found in about two cans of non-diet soda. The researchers assigned a fourth group of participants to consume their normal diet with no added sugar-sweetened beverages. They assessed fatty acid and triglyceride synthesis by the liver and whole-body fat metabolism.
Daily consumption of beverages sweetened with fructose and sucrose, but not glucose, led to a twofold increase in the production of free fatty acids in the liver. Fructose intake did not increase triglyceride production in the liver or whole-body fat metabolism. Participants from all four groups consumed about the same amount of calories, and while body weight tended to increase for all groups, this relationship was only statistically significant for the group consuming glucose-sweetened beverages. Glucose and insulin tolerance did not change with sugar-sweetened beverage consumption.
The investigators concluded that consumption of beverages sweetened with fructose and sucrose increased free fatty acid production in the liver. While they did not observe changes in other metabolic markers such as insulin tolerance, they hypothesized that the alterations in fat production by the liver pave the way for metabolic disease development.
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Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death worldwide, claiming the lives of more than 17 million people every year. A recent meta-analysis and systematic review suggests that quercetin may exert protective effects to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Quercetin is a flavonol compound found in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, including onions, apples, tea, and lettuce. Epidemiological data suggest that quercetin exerts protective effects against cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and other chronic diseases due to its anti-inflammatory actions.
The analysis investigated the effects of quercetin intake on several risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including lipid profiles, blood pressure, and glucose levels. It was based on findings from 17 randomized controlled trials involving nearly 900 participants who took a standardized quercetin extract.
The results of the analysis indicated that quercetin intake reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressures by approximately 3.09 mmHg and 2.86 mmHg, respectively. Quercetin intake did not appear to influence blood lipid profiles or glucose levels. However, a sub-group analysis demonstrated that longer trials of quercetin intake (8 weeks or more) had favorable effects on participants' HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
These findings suggest that quercetin may be useful in the clinical setting for the management of risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease.
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FDA approves use of drug to reduce risk of cardiovascular events in certain adult patient groups www.reuters.com
Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death of people living in the United States (US). Having elevated (abnormal) triglyceride levels may contribute to atherosclerosis, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of a drug to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in adults who have elevated triglyceride levels.
The drug, called Vascepa (icosapent ethyl), reduces blood triglyceride levels by one-third when accompanied by low-fat, low-cholesterol dietary modification. It has been shown to reduce the rate of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular events by 25 percent compared to a placebo.
Candidates for Vascepa therapy must have triglyceride levels of 150 milligrams per deciliter or higher. They should also have established cardiovascular disease or type 2 diabetes and two or more additional cardiovascular disease risk factors.
The active ingredient in Vascepa is eicosapentaenoic acid, a type of omega-3 fatty acid derived from fish oil. The drug, which is taken orally, has demonstrated a safety profile similar to placebos. Adverse events associated with Vascepa include atrial fibrillation and increased risk of bleeding. People who are allergic to fish or shellfish may be at risk for allergic reactions to Vascepa.