Triglycerides Vs Cholesterol: Differences Worth Knowing

Cholesterol, triglycerides, and high-density lipoproteins are essential constituents of the lipid fraction of the human body.¹ Triglycerides and cholesterol, both may be related to heart health but they perform different functions in the body. Hence, each one acts in their way and they have important differences that are worth knowing. Understanding triglycerides vs cholesterol and the ways they affect your health can help in every way.

Although triglycerides and cholesterol are thought to be the same, but they have differences and also some similarities and both together are considered to assess the risk of heart diseases and related cardiovascular ailments. Let us look at triglycerides vs cholesterol and their differences worth knowing.

Triglycerides are a type of fat, a form in which the body stores excess energy that you get from your diet. You get them from your dietary intake when you consume foods like butter, cheese, and oil. As they are stores of excess energy, consuming too much of foods with simple carbs can also result in the excess formation of triglycerides. Thus, consuming foods high in triglycerides, which include fats and simple carbs can raise your levels and increase your health risks.

Cholesterol is a waxy substance, essential for our daily functions. Your cells need cholesterol to make vitamins and hormones.² It is produced by the liver while some are dietary cholesterol that comes from animal food you eat, such as dairy products, poultry, and meat. While cholesterol is important for the body, excess cholesterol can be a problem. Thus, consuming foods high in cholesterol, which mainly include animal food can cause raised cholesterol levels that increase your health risks. As your body produces enough cholesterol required by your body, it is recommended to eat as little dietary cholesterol as possible for a healthy lifestyle.³ Cholesterol is of 2 types, namely good cholesterol (high-density lipoproteins – HDL) and bad cholesterol (low-density lipoproteins – LDL).

Thus, the main difference is that your body produces all the cholesterol it needs but triglycerides are mainly formed by excess consumption of food. If you consume excess calories, particularly simple carbs, they will get converted into triglycerides stores and raise your triglyceride levels.

The main function of triglycerides is to store calories for future use and to give your body the energy it needs. The main function of cholesterol is to build cells in your body and the formation of hormones, vitamins, and the production of bile in the liver.

Some studies suggest that the cholesterol levels are fairly constant but triglyceride levels fluctuate considerably and are highest around 1 to 4 hours after meals.¹ Also, tests should not be performed during periods of stress or within 6 weeks after a major illness like acute myocardial infarction as cholesterol may be reduced and triglyceride levels may be increased during this period.¹

Here are the normal triglyceride levels, cholesterol levels, and lipid levels as given by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• Total cholesterol – Less than 200 mg/dL
• LDL (“bad”) cholesterol – Less than 100 mg/dL
• HDL (“good”) cholesterol – Greater than or equal to 60 mg/dL
• Triglycerides – Less than 150 mg/dL

Some of the factors affecting triglyceride levels include diet and lifestyle choices, time of the day, diabetes, menstruation, inflammatory disorders, being overweight, pregnancy, age, and medications.

Increased triglyceride levels are thought to be linked with several health risks, more particularly the risk of heart attack and stroke. Other parameters like levels of bad cholesterol are also involved. The combination of high levels of triglycerides with low HDL cholesterol or high LDL cholesterol levels can increase your risk for heart attack and stroke.⁴

Increased levels of cholesterol are considered to be unhealthy although the exact relationship to heart disease is not clear it is advisable to maintain an ideal range. However, strong evidence shows that eating patterns that include less dietary cholesterol is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.³ Your cholesterol levels are often checked along with your family history, age, gender, and your lifestyle choices like smoking, which could raise your risk for high cholesterol.⁴

Triglycerides are also linked to an increased risk of diabetes as compared to cholesterol levels. Studies suggest that lowering triglycerides may reduce residual cardiovascular risk, especially in high-risk patients with diabetic dyslipidemia.⁵

As triglycerides are excess stores of energy, diet and lifestyle changes have a greater impact on elevated levels of triglycerides. If the consumption of carbs is reduced and more calories are burnt triglyceride levels can be controlled. Hence, along with medications, dietary and lifestyle choices and physical activity play an important role in managing high triglyceride levels.

Cholesterol is considered based on HDL and LDL. While high LDL levels can increase the risk of heart diseases, HDL levels can help reduce the risk. Genetic makeup also plays an important role in cholesterol levels. Dietary intake of cholesterol does not affect much and can be more related in case of excessive consumption of foods rich in bad cholesterol. Hence a diet that is rich in good cholesterol and low in bad cholesterol is often advised.

After having understood triglycerides vs cholesterol and realizing that there are differences worth knowing, you may wonder why are they thought to be the same thing? The main reason is that although they have differences, they have some similarities too. Moreover, both of them ultimately affect your health in some way or the other.

These similarities include:

• Both triglycerides and cholesterol are essential for the normal functioning of the body.
• Both triglycerides and cholesterol are not good to have in excess. Increased levels of both can increase health risks.
• Blood tests are available to check both the parameters. Although the tests are different, they are often clubbed under the Lipid profile, which measures the lipid levels in the blood.
• Both can be treated with medications and managed with a healthy diet and lifestyle.

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Also Read:

• Causes of High Triglycerides in a Skinny Person & Ways to Reduce it?
• 14 Tips to Lower Your Triglycerides
• Can Stress Cause High Triglycerides?
• Why Are High Triglycerides Bad?
• What are Triglycerides? | High and Normal Triglyceride Levels | Risks and Causes of High Levels of Triglycerides | How Can You Lower Your High Triglyceride Levels?