Learning About High Triglycerides in Children and Teens

Triglycerides are a type of fat (lipid) found in our blood. Our bodies use them for energy. We need some for good health.

Normal lipid values in children vary by age and sex. These levels naturally change as your child gets older.

When triglycerides are high, it can cause problems, especially for children and teens. Having high triglycerides can increase your child's risk for heart disease and stroke later in life. High triglycerides can happen when your child has high levels of a certain cholesterol called non-high-density lipoproteins (non-HDLs), insulin resistance, or metabolic syndrome. This condition is sometimes called pediatric hypertriglyceridemia.

High triglycerides can be caused by several things, including:

• Having foods and drinks with too much sugar.
• Lack of physical activity.
• Medical conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, hypothyroidism, or kidney disease.
• Some medicines.
• Family history (genes).

Having high triglycerides doesn’t usually cause symptoms. In some cases, your child may have fatty bumps under the skin.

High triglycerides are diagnosed with a cholesterol screening. This screening also checks triglyceride levels. When you get your child's results back, your child's doctor can help you understand the results and what they mean for your child.

Treatment mostly includes diet and lifestyle changes. The best results come when the whole family makes healthy changes together. Your child's doctor will check triglyceride levels again after a few months to see how the changes are working.

Children with severe cases will follow the same recommendations but may need to follow them more strictly. Here are some common recommendations.

To support healthy eating, try to help your child:

• Limit foods and drinks with a lot of sugar.
• Limit refined carbohydrates like white bread, white rice, chips, and crackers. Choose whole-grain options instead. These include whole-grain bread, tortillas, noodles, and cereals.
• Eat more fruits and vegetables. Include a variety of colors and textures.
• Have healthy fats in moderation. These include olive oil, olives, avocados, nuts, and seeds.
• Limit saturated and trans fats.
• Choose more lean proteins. These include chicken, turkey, beans, legumes, and eggs, as well as lean beef, pork, and lamb.
• Eat fish more often. Fatty fish (such as salmon, mackerel, tuna, and sardines) help lower triglyceride levels. Try to have these twice a week.

Ask your child's doctor about meeting with a registered dietitian. A dietitian can create a personalized eating plan for your child and family.

• Have your child be active every day for at least 60 minutes. Find what's fun for them, such as walking, running, playing, dancing, or sports.
• Include muscle and bone strengthening activities at least 3 times per week. For children, this can look like climbing, running, and jumping.
• Help your child stay at a weight that’s healthy for them.

• If your child has diabetes, keep their blood sugar in their target range.
• Have your child take their medicines as prescribed.