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From: werner@aecom.UUCP (Craig Werner)
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: Re: triglycerides
Message-ID: <1814@aecom.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 29-Jul-85 00:30:40 EDT
Article-I.D.: aecom.1814
Posted: Mon Jul 29 00:30:40 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 31-Jul-85 23:37:58 EDT
References: <422@sdcc12.UUCP>
Organization: Albert Einstein Coll. of Med., NY
Lines: 24

> What is the function of triglycerides in the body?
> I recently had a thorough medical checkup and was found to be completely
> healthy.  The only abnormal finding was a lower than normal
> level of triglycerides.  What significance does that have?
> Could that be due to my being a vegetarian?
> 
	Congratulations. You're perfectly healthy.  The finding is not so
much 'abnormal' as 'unusual' and is compatible with a long life.

	Triglycerides are three fatty acids joined to a molecule of glycerol,
hence, 'tri'-'glycer'-'ides.'  They are the body's method of transporting fat
in the blood (or I should say, one of the methods).
	Being a vegetarian is most likely directly responsible for this fine
state of affairs, since no animal fat is being consumed.

	High triglycerides are something to worry about, since like high
cholesterol (the two are usually elevated together), it is almost directly
related with the incidence of heart disease, etc. However, there is nothing
I can say about this that any margarine commercial hasn't already said.

-- 
				Craig Werner
				!philabs!aecom!werner
		"The world is just a straight man for you sometimes"