As the "optimal" levels reflect health, the IDEAL (ie. beneficial) blood triglyceride levels for cardiovascular health seem to be the levels between 70 mg/dL and 100 mg/dL, or 0.8 - 1.1 mmol/L.

The average triglyceride level in the United States is 134 mg/dL, or 1.5 mmol/L and is considerably higher than triglyceride levels below 100 mg/dL, or 1.1 mmol/L commonly observed in countries where heart disease rates are low.

Although medical establishments consider blood triglyceride levels of 10 - 150 mg/dL, or 0.1 - 1.7 mmol/L normal, or good, according to many experts, desirable or favorable fasting blood triglyceride levels should be 50 - 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), or 0.6 - 1.7 millimoles per liter (mmol/L) of blood.

"Normal", however, does NOT necessarily mean "healthy" as it may include both healthy and many unhealthy people. We want "healthy", not just "normal" serum triglyceride (and other lipid) levels.

Therefore, in order to avoid future cardiovascular health problems, the "ideal" or beneficial (healthy) range of trigycerides should be much tighter than the often quoted "normal" triglyceride range referred to by your doctor, that is below 150 mg/dL, or 1.7 mmol/L.

This is important as elevations of the blood triglycerides, particularly in association with decreased HDL-"good" cholesterol, outside this range are the key marker for heart disease and stroke.

"Research shows that levels above 100 mg/dl significantly increase your risk for heart attack," says Bruce Holub, PhD, nutrition researcher at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada.

For each mmol/L increase in triglycerides - which translates into 88.5 mg/dL - the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) increases by 37 percent in women and 14 percent in men.

All else being equal, a man with a triglyceride level of 300 mg/dL would have a risk of cardiovascular events roughly 28 percent higher than that of an otherwise comparable man who has a level of 100 mg/dL (a meta-analysis by John Hokanson and Melissa Austin, 1996).

Therefore, for every percentage your triglyceride level drops, so can your chance of heart disease or stroke.

	The blood tests make available to the physician a great amount of information about a patient's physical condition at the time of the testing. After review and interpretation, the blood test results play an important part in an overall medical diagnosis.

Most reference ranges - often referred to as 'normal' ranges - are typically defined as the range of values of the median 95 percent of the healthy population; therefore, it is unlikely that a given blood sample, even from a healthy patient, will show "normal" values for every blood test taken.

A blood test, though important, is only a part of the final diagnosis of a health problem.

For this reason, caution should be exercised by examining physicians to prevent overreaction to mild abnormalities without the interpretation of those test results.

Blood lipid test, mainly cholesterol and triglycerides, is a screening test which is used to try to detect a disease when there is little or no evidence that a person has a suspected disease.

Therefore, measuring lipid levels helps to identify one of the risks of heart disease in those who may show no symptoms of heart disease. Blood lipid test then is a tool for the physician to detect a potentially harmful and evolving condition.

However, sometimes a test result may be:

• incorrectly abnormal in a person who does not have the suspected disease (a false-positive result) or
• incorrectly normal in a person who has the disease (a false-negative result).

No blood test is completely accurate all of the time.

Because your physician cannot always be sure whether or not the reported result of a particular test from a particular person is false or true, a person with an abnormal result may often need to be re-tested or undergo a different type of testing.

"Normal" test result values, expressed as a reference range, vary somewhat among laboratories, due to methodology and even geography.

Also tests and testing vary widely in different parts of the world, and in different parts of most countries, mainly due to characteristics in the population, among other factors.

In assessing the risk of heart disease, standard medicine targets mainly total blood cholesterol levels and LDL-"bad" cholesterol. However, people with high cholesterol often have high triglycerides, especially when there is no another disorder present.

Therefore, the type of standard, conventional medical treatment used to lower cholesterol

• depends on whether triglycerides are high or normal, and
• is usually directed toward lowering both cholesterol AND triglycerides.

HERE ARE YOUR RESULTS Check these various components in your fasting blood lipid profile.They are considered important indicators of your risk of having a heart disease. It is obviously best to be at the high end of the "good" HDL cholesterol range (> 80 mg/dL), and the low end of the "bad" LDL cholesterol (< 100 mg/dL) and triglycerides range (< 100 mg/dL is IDEAL).
	LIPID	LEVEL	LEVEL	LEVEL	SHOULD BE . . ..
	Total Cholesterol (TC)	DESIRABLE Under < 200 mg/dL	BORDERLINE-HIGH (Depending on your HDL) 200 mg/dL -239 mg/dL	HIGH 240 mg/dL and Above	Under < 200 mg/dL (depending on your HDL level) DESIRED: Not more than 4 times your HDL level. Examples: 4 X 40 mg/dL HDL = 160 mg/dL total cholesterol (TC) 4 X 50 mg/dL HDL = 200 mg/dL total cholesterol (TC)
	HDL Cholesterol (High Density Lipoprotein -"Good" Cholesterol)	DESIRABLE Men - 65 mg/dL Women - 75 mg/dL or Higher	ACCEPTABLE Men - 60 mg/dL Women - 65 mg/dL	LOW Men - <55 mg/dL Women - <60 mg/dL	Above > 60 - 70 mg/dL The lower your HDL, the lower your total cholesterol (TC) should be!
	HDL/TC Ratio: HDL divided by Total Cholesterol (TC)	IDEAL 0.30 or Higher	LOW Under < 0.24	VERY DANGEROUS Less than < 0.10	Above > 0.24 Example: 80 HD:190 TC = 0.42 The higher the number (HDL:TC ratio), the better - the lower your risk of heart attack.
	Triglycerides (TRG)	BORDERLINE-HIGH 150 mg/dL - 199 mg/dL	HIGH 200 mg/dL - 499 mg/dL	VERY HIGH Over >500 mg/dL	Under < 150 mg/dL IDEAL: Under <100m/dL When triglycerides are "severly high" (greater than < 1000 mg/dL), there is a risk of developing pancreatitis.
	TRG/HDL Ratio: Triglycerides divided by HDL	IDEAL 2 or Less	HIGH 4	MUCH TOO HIGH 6	Under < 2 Example: 110 TRG:60 HDL = < 2 The lower the number (TRG:HDL ratio), the better - the lower your risk of heart attack.
	LDL Cholesterol (Low Density Lipoprotein - "Bad" Cholesterol)	NEAR OPTIMAL OR ABOVE OPTIMAL 100 mg/dL - 129 mg/dL	BORDERLINE-HIGH 130 mg/dL - 159 mg/dL	HIGH 160 mg/dL - 189 mg/dL	OPTIMAL: Under < 100 mg/dL VERY HIGH: 190 mg/dL and above
	LDL Cholesterol FOR HEART PATIENTS	MUST BE UNDER < 80 mg/dL The lower, the better	HIGH 110 mg/dL	DANGEROUSLY HIGH 140 mg/dL	IDEAL: Under < 70 mg/dL (If you are a heart patient, LDL MUST be under < 70 mg/dL) SEE YOUR DOCTOR, IF NOT UNDER < 80 mg/dL.
	Glucose (GLU): 6-Hour Fasting Blood Sugar	NORMAL Under < 87 mg/dL	HIGH 110 - 125 mg/dL	VERY HIGH 126 mg/dL and Above (Pre-diabetes)	Under < 90 SEE YOUR DOCTOR, if 110 mg/dL or above
	Insulin: 8-Hour Fasting Blood Insulin	GOOD Below 5 uU/ml (VERY GOOD: 2 - 3 uU/ml	HIGH 5 - 15 uU/ml	VERY HIGH Over 15 uU/ml	Under < 90 SEE YOUR DOCTOR, if over 10 uU/ml
PLEASE NOTE: These numbers are based on a fasting lipid profile: 12 to 14 hours before the test (alcohol should NOT be consumed for the 24 hours). IF YOU DON'T FAST, your Triglycerides, LDL, Glucose and Insulin will be higher. Print Friendly Version

American blood laboratories use a different version of the metric system than does most of the rest of the world, which uses the Système International d'Unités (SI units).

The SI is an international standard recognized around the world – except by the United States of America, Liberia, and Myanmar (Burma) who will probably adopt it in due time.

In some cases translation between the two systems is easy, but the difference between the two is most pronounced in the measurement of chemical concentration.

The American System: mg/dL
The American system generally uses mass per unit volume (milligrams per deciliter of blood). By considering the weight of a substance in the blood, it is less accurate.

The term "mg/dL" then is the abbreviation for milligrams (mg) per deciliter (dL) and describes how much lipid is present in a specific amount of blood.

A deciliter is 1/10 of a liter or about 1/4 of a pint.

The SI System: mmol/L
The SI system (Système International) - in Canada, Australia, Europe, and other countries - uses moles per unit volume (millimoles per liter of blood). By considering the number of molecules of a substance in the blood, it is more accurate then.

The term "mmol/L" is the abbreviation for millimoles (mmol) per liter/litre (L) and describes how much lipid is present in a specific amount of blood.

A millimole is 1/1,000 of a mole. A mole is an amount of a substance (in this case, triglyceride or cholesterol) that contains a certain number of molecules or atoms.

Since mass per mole varies with the molecular weight of the substance being analyzed, conversion between the American and SI units requires many different conversion factors.

Triglycerides Conversion:

• from mg/dL to mmol/L: multiply by (x) 0.01129
• from mmol/L to mg/dL: multiply by (x) 88.6
.

Cholesterol Conversion:

• from mg/dL to mmol/L: multiply by (x) 0.02586
• mmol/L to mg/dL: multiply by (x) 38.7.

Glucose (GLU) Conversion:
For diabetics wishing to converse in American sugar lingo, the conversion is 18. For example, a blood sugar reading of 7.5 mmol/L multiplied by 18 yields 135 mg/dL. To convert mg/dL of glucose to mmol/L, divide by 18 or multiply by 0.055.

Round off to make values easier to comprehend and don't sweat the hundredths place. For example, 4.3 mmol/l converts to 77.4 mg/dL but should probably be quoted as 75 mg/dL or even 80 mg/dL.

Similarly, 150 mg/dL converts to 8.3333... mmol/L but 8.3 is a reasonable quote, and even just 8 would usually convey the meaning Anyway, we usually talk in approximations anyway.

Conversion Simplified
If you are a Canadian snowbird heading south who may feel shut out in the poolside medical exchange, this may help.

To convert your cholesterol into Floridian, simply multiply the value by 39. For example, if your cholesterol comes in at 5.2 mmol/L, multiplying this by 39 yields a value 202 mg/dL.

The same conversion factor of 39 applies to HDL and LDL values.

However, your triglyceride values must be multiplied by 89.

Armed with these simple conversion factors you can impress your American neighbours with your bilingual knowledge of lab values, and then exchange stories of how to amazingly improve the numbers without actually following your doctor’s advice (read: without the need for risky drugs).

Triglyceride Conversion Calculator
Enter the Triglyceride level in the spaces provided below and then click the "Calculate" button to convert. Use the "tab" key to move from cell to cell for faster input.

Convert Triglyceride Concentrations between mg/dL and mmol/L
Patient Data (Your Input):		Results (Calculated Value):
Triglyceride:	mg/dL	Triglyceride converted to mmol/L:
Triglyceride:	mmol/L	Triglyceride converted to mg/dL:

Please treat the results with due care and consideration.

Here is the American Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel’s current policy on total cholesterol blood levels in adults:

• less than 200 mg/dL (<5.2 mmol/L) is considered desirable
• 200 mg/dL - 239 mg/dL (5.2 mmol/L - 6.2 mmol/L) - borderline-high
• 240 mg/dL and above (>6.2 mmol/L and higher) is considered high.

The NCEP is a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Its recommendations ("consensus statements") are the products of independent, non-Federal panels of experts and are based on the panels' assessments of medical knowledge available at the time the statements were made.

Therefore, they provide "snapshots in time" of the state of knowledge of the topics (new knowledge, however, is inevitably accumulating through medical research).

It should be noted, however, that the usually quoted "normal" blood lipid levels do change as they depend upon the levels found in the majority of the population as well as upon what... health officials decide is normal.

Although total serum cholesterol doesn't correlate with cardiovascular disease in the range of 180 to 240, certain fractions of that total cholesterol do correlate.
These fractions are HDL-"good" (high density) and LDL-"bad" (low density) cholesterol. This is why you need a Lipid Profile, also called a Lipid Panel, and not just a total cholesterol when you get your blood drawn.

Simply said,

• LDL carries cholesterol for cell building needs, but leaves behind any excess on artery walls and in tissues;
• HDL helps to prevent narrowing of the artery walls by removing the excess cholesterol and transporting it to the liver for excretion.

For this reason, their blood levels are important markers for cardiovascular health and disease.

LDL-"bad" cholesterol level:

• less than 100 mg/dL (<2.6 mmol/L) is considered optimal
• 100 mg/dL - 129 mg/dL (2.6 mmol/L - 3.4 mmol/L) - near optimal or above optimal
• 130 mg/dL - 159 mg/dL (3.4 mmol/L - 4.1 mmol/L) - borderline high
• 160 mg/dL - 189 mg/dL (4.1 mmol/L - 4.9 mmol/L) - high
• 190 mg/dL and above (4.9 mmol/L and greater) is considered very high.

HDL-"good" cholesterol level:

• 60 mg/dL (>1.6 mmol/L) or higher is considered desirable (it reduces the risk of heart disease, even if total or LDL cholesterol is high)
• 40 mg/dL - 60 mg/dL (1.0 mmol/L - 1.6 mmol/L) - acceptable
• below 40 mg/dL (1.0 mmol/L) is considered low (it increases the risk for coronary artery disease in people who also have high total cholesterol levels).

However, according to Robert H. Eckel, professor of medicine at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, not all HDL is created equal. Just as we once thought all cholesterol was bad, there is now evidence that some "good" HDL may not be good after all (HDL particles are heterogeneous and multiple subclasses differing in diameter and density have been identified).

The published evidence is quite clear in documenting that the actual cholesterol level itself is not the most important risk factor of cardiovascular disease. It is the ratio between the level of HDL-good cholesterol and total cholesterol.

HDL-"good" cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio:

• in adults, it should be higher than 0.24 (just divide your HDL level by your cholesterol). And, generally speaking, the higher the ratio, the better.

HDL (high-density lipoproteins) and triglycerdies are closely related. It appears common for people with high triglycerides to have low HDL levels, and these same people also tend to have high levels of clotting factors in their blood stream, which is unhealthy in protecting against heart disease.

Triglyceride/HDL-"good" cholesterol ratio:

• in adults, it should be below 2 (just divide your triglycerides level by your HDL). And, since HDL is protective against heart disease, the lower the ratio, the better.

However, according to Robert H. Eckel, professor of medicine at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, not all HDL is created equal. Just as we once thought all cholesterol was bad, there is now evidence that some "good" HDL may not be good after all (HDL particles are heterogeneous and multiple subclasses differing in diameter and density have been identified).

Routine screening consists of measurement of total cholesterol and HDL. In addition to the total cholesterol and HDL, blood drawn after an overnight fast allows accurate measurement of VLDL and triglycerides.

For the calculation of LDL cholesterol, however, the most frequently used method is the Friedewald equation (Friedewald at al.,1972). It allows to estimate the LDL level from quantitative measurements of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and plasma triglycerides (TGs) using the following empirical relationship of Friedewald:

{LDL = total cholesterol - HDL - [triglycerides (in mmol/L)/2.17 or triglycerides (in mg/dL)/5]}

The quotient [TGs]/2.17, or [TGs]/5 is used as an estimate of VLDL cholesterol concentration. It assumes that 1) virtually all of the plasma triglycerides are carried on VLDL, and 2) the triglycerides:cholesterol ratio of VLDL is nearly constant at about 5:1. But neither assumption is strictly true.

The Friedewald equation for calculating LDL cholesterol is generally unreliable and invalid when:

• intestinal chylomicrons are present (chylomicronemia)
• very low density lipoproteins (VLDLs) are increased, therefore, triglycerides are over 400 mg/dL, or 4.52 mmol/L
• remnant lipoproteins are present - in patients with dysbetalipoproteinemia.

In case of chylomicronemia and hypertriglyceridemia, a reliable LDL cholesterol level may be obtained by using the homogeneous direct LDL cholesterol test.

In case of hyperlipoproteinemia, ultracentrifugation and precipitation is required to obtain reliable LDL level. This method, however, known as "ß-quantification", is cumbersome and time-consuming and requires expensive instrumentation and trained personnel. Hence, it is not commonly performed.

Also the use of the Friedewald equation in type 2 diabetic patients has been questioned as diabetic dyslipidemia includes abnormalities in lipoprotein particles, including VLDL and their remnants (Clinical Chemistry 46: 1830-1832, 2000). The LDL cholesterol concentrations obtained by this method tend to be significantly lower. Being far from ideal, the Friedewald equation underestimates the cardiovascular risk in diabetics.

William E. Feeman Jr. MD, a family practitioner, Bowling Green, Ohio, United States, conducted the long-term, observational Bowling Green Study, which has followed 2,818 family-medicine patients since 1974.

The effort of this investigator-initiated and self-funded study was to determine what components of lipid profiles have the greatest impact on risk of atherosclerotic events.

In his scientific poster, Dr. Freeman presented data on 1,339 men and 1,479 women ages less than 29 to greater than age 80 who were seen in his practice between 1974 and 2001.

According to Dr. Freeman's findings, the earliest onset of atherosclerosis have people with abnormal values for

• decreased HDL-"good" cholesterol (39 mg/dL, or 1.0 mmol/L or less)
• increased LDL-"bad" cholesterol (170 mg/dL, or 4.4 mmol/L or higher) and
• increased triglycerides (150 mg/dL, or 1.7 mmol/L or higher).

This group does require aggressive lipid therapy.

The most typical lipid disorder, however, represent people with

• normal HDL-"good" cholesterol (> 39mg/dL, or > 1.0 mmol/L) but
• abnormal LDL (> 170 mg/dL, or 4.4 mmol/L) and triglycerides (> 150 mg/dL, or 1.7 mmol/L)

The definition of metabolic syndrome X or insulin resistance represent people with

• normal LDL-"bad" cholesterol (< 170 mg/dL, or <4.4 mmol/L)
• abnormal HDL-"good" cholesterol (> 39 mg/dL, or > 1.0 mmol/L) and
• abnormal triglycerides (> 150 mg/dL, or > 1.7 mmol/L).

All these people require lipid therapy as - according to Dr. Freeman - dyslipidemia, after smoking, is the next most important risk factor for atherosclerosis.

However, lipid therapy is not required in people with

• normal HDL-"good" cholesterol (> 39 mg/dL, > 1.0 mmol/L) and LDL-"bad" cholesterol (< 170 mg/dL. 4.4 mmol/L), but
• elevated triglycerides (> 150 mg/dL, or > 1.7 mmol/L).

In other words, these people can bring blood triglycerides down to normal by other than pharmacological means.

Source: 17th World Conference of Family Doctors 2004, Orlando, Florida.

The first important step in choosing medical treatment for hypertriglyceridemia is to consider a patient's risk profile. Usually, the major cardiovascular risk factors are associated with:

• insulin resistance, also known as metabolic syndrome X
• diabetes
• high triglycerides
• low HDL-"good" cholesterol
• obesity
• smoking, and
• hypertension.

Here are standard treatment options offered at a typical doctor's office:

1. High Triglycerides and Low HDL-"Good" Cholesterol:
If your triglycerides are high (over 200 mg/dL, or 2.3 mmol/L) your doctor will check first whether your HDL-"good" cholesterol is low (however, less than 35 mg/dL, or 0.04 mmol/L in men and 45 mg/dL, or 0.5 mmol/L in women are considered very low!).

Research suggests that the combination of low HDL and high triglycerides indicates a generalized disorder of lipid (fat) metabolism, called metabolic syndrome X, which may place you at high cardiovascular risk.

In this case, before prescribing any medication, your doctor will recommend for three intial months basic lifestyle changes - suitable for all people with elevated triglycerides and other lipids - such as:

exercising

losing excess weight

quitting smoking

reducing alcohol, and

eating a diet low in carbohydrates and saturated fats.

Not Responding to Lifestyle Changes:
After 3 months, if despite the sincere lifestyle changes your triglycerides remain high and HDL-"good" cholesterol low, your doctor may consider adding a fibrate drug such as Lopid ^® (gemfibrozil) to your regimen.

From doctors' point of view, being on medication doesn’t mean you failed – just that you need a little more help that diet and exercise can provide. However, you would be astounded how many people would rather take a pill than consider changing anything else.

You need to take your medication for initially 3 months and then check your triglycerides level under medical supervision.

2. Familial Hyperlipidemia:
If you have a family history of lipid disorders your doctor may choose niacin.

Not Responding to Niacin:
If that doesn’t work, he will probably add to your regimen a fibrate (e.g., gemfibrozil, fenofibrate) - especially, if you suffer from familial hypertriglyceridemia - or a statin (e.g., simvastatin, lovastatin).

Without treatment you may eventually develop atherosclerosis leading to a heart attack. (Familial combined hyperlipidemia manifests as high cholesterol, high triglycerides, or both).

3. Triglycerides Over 500 mg/dL:
If your triglycerides are greater than 500 mg/dL, or > 5.65 mmol/L your doctor may prescribe fibrate therapy, either alone or in combination with niacin, a statin, or fish oil (taken in supplement form or as 30 percent of dietary calories).

If left untreated, triglycerides over 500 mg/dL can cause pancreatitis (the inflammation of pancreas).

4. Borderline-High Triglycerides and Normal LDL-"Bad" Cholesterol:
If your triglycerides are borderline-high (150 - 199 mg/dL, or 1.7–2.3 mmol/L) with normal LDL-"bad" cholesterol (less than 130 mg/dL, or 3.4 mmol/L) your doctor my consider using niacin or a fibrate.

Not all doctors would agree you should be treated medically, unless you have history of vascular disease. However, this line of treatment may be considered, if you

• have not responded to lifestyle chagnes and
• have other cardiovascular risk factors, such as smoking or a family history of heart disease.

5. High Triglycerides and High LDL-"Bad" Cholesterol:
If you have high triglycerides (over 200 mg/dL, or 2.3 mmol/L) in combination with high LDL-"bad" cholesterol (over 160 mg/dL, or 4.1 mmol/L), the LDL abnormality will be treated first - along with lifestyle changes, medication (usually statins), or both.

Not Responding to Statin Therapy:
If, however, your triglycerides remain high despite statin therapy, your doctor may consider adding niacin to bring them into the normal range (less than 150 mg/dL, or <1.7 mmol/L).

Once the underlying disorder is identified and treated, triglyceride levels often decrease.

6. High Triglycerides Due to an Underlying Disorder:
High triglycerides may be caused by other disorders, such as type 2 diabetes, alcoholism, hypothyroidism, Cushing’s syndrome, liver disease, uremia, dysglobulinemia, or nephrotic syndrome.

PLEASE NOTE: Because drinking can cause hypertriglyceridemia, you will be asked by your doctor about your drinking paterns, and suggested - if needed - to cut back or eliminate alcohol before exploring other treatment options.

Suggested Medications for Treating Hypertriglyceridemia*
Blood Triglyceride Level (mg/dL or mmol/L)		Suggested Medical Therapy
Over 500 mg/dL, or 5.6 mmol/L		Fibrate If unsuccessful, add niacin, fish oil, or statin
200-500 mg/dL, or 2.3-5.6 mmol/L and patient has familial combined hyperlipidemia		Niacin If unsuccessful, add statin or fibrate
200-500 mg/dL, or 2.3-5.6 mmol/L and patient has familial hypertriglyceridemia		Fibrate
200-500 mg/dL, or 2.3-5.6 mmol/L with normal LDL (under 130 mg/dL, or 3.4 mmol/L)		Niacin or fibrate If unsuccessful, add fish oil
150-200 mg/dL, or 1.7-2.3 mmol/L with normal LDL (under 130 mg/dL, or 3.4 mmol/L)		If at low cardiovascular risk: no drug therapy If at high risk: niacin or fibrate
150-500 mg/dL, or 1.7-5.6 mmol/L with elevated LDL (over 159 mg/dL, or 4.1 mmol/L)		Statin If unsuccessful, add niacin. If still unsuccessful, refer to a specialist
150-500 mg/dL, or 1.7-5.6 mmol/L with low HDL (less than 35 mg/dL, or 0.04 mmol/L in men and 45 mg/dL, or 0.5 mmol/L in women)		Fibrate or niacin

* Courtesy of Michael Schloss, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, New York University Medical School

Our customers write to us:

Wednesday, April 26, 2003: Thanks! I have been trying to reduce my triglycerides for several years now. I was placed on (...) Tricor which produced side effects so badly that I could not take it. I started taking your Triglycerides Reduction Formula and following the Diet just under two months ago. My doctor just called and gave me my lab results. My triglycerides fell from 432 to 170, my HDL went from 30 to 48 and all the other results were normal which hasn't happened in years. Needless to say, I just ordered another 2 months' supply of your Triglycerides Reduction Formula. It really works! Thanks again, Gene * The testimonial above has been presented as a true story. However, it has not been reviewed by Full of Health and is the opinion of the listed individual.

A study in the Archives of Neurology published unsettling new information: "Atorvastatin decreases the Coenzyme Q10 level in the blood of patients at risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke" (Arch Neurol, Jun 2004; 61: 889 - 89).

Atorvastatin is the chemical name for Lipitor ^®, the world’s best selling cholesterol-lowering prescription drug.

This new study, however, is simply confirmation of what scientists have known for some time: “miracle” but potentially harmful statin drugs may lower levels of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) - a superior antioxidant, essential for the production of energy in every cell of the body.

Isn’t it a little ironic? Millions of heart patients are taking a drug that depletes CoQ10 which - through many years of research - has been shown to be effective in protecting the cardiovascular system and helping to prevent heart disease.

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has decided to reclassify Zocor (another best selling statin drug) as over-the-counter (OTC), in spite of the fact that Zocor may cause muscle pain or weakness, as well as liver problems (according to the Zocor website).

PLEASE NOTE: If you are on statins, taking 100 mg of CoQ10 daily will help you replenish depleted CoQ10 stores as you work with your doctor in weaning yourself off these drugs.

Coenzyme Q10 is one of the most valuable investments you can make for your heart - and one of the most important nutrients you can take for your health. In fact, if you can only take one or two supplements a day - CoQ10 should absolutely be one of them!

Lipid measurement may show normal total cholesterol, with a low HDL-“good” cholesterol and a moderately elevated triglyceride level; for example, total cholesterol of 197 mg/dL, an LDL-“bad” of 120 mg/dL, an HDL of 35 mg/dL, and a triglyceride of 210 mg/dL. That pattern is not unusual; in fact, it is seen in about 20 percent to 30 percent of people who have had a myocardial infarction (heart attack).

However, an important issue is how to best manage these people.

In those cases, doctors may now use a new commercially available test. This procedure uses nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to fractionate VLDL, LDL, and HDL concentrations into 15 different subfractions. It is completely automated and takes only about one minute to perform, since it measures all subfractions simultaneously.

For example, two people may have similar lipid levels, but if NMR spectroscopy shows that one has a much higher proportion of small, dense lipoprotein particles, that might tip the balance toward treatment, especially if there is a family history of cardiovascular artery disease (CAD) or other risk factors.

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