In addition to doing low carb., what are some other ways to reduce triglycerides? My husband is going to have a knee replacement soon and I'd love to see his TG lower. He has quit having his wine and is doing less than 40 carbs daily. He has lost about 9 pounds since he started in Jan. 2010. I am hoping he can get a little healthier before the surgery.

Thanks!

I always thought exercise was a huge factor but I am not sure. I am wondering for myself. I have no idea what mine are - last time I checked they were 133 a couple years back.

Triglycerides are raised by carbs and sometimes genetics. Fish oil helps too, and D3 probably helps as well. Having high fasting triglycerides is probably a pretty good indication of a metabolic issue like pre-diabetes.

How long has he been doing low carb? If he's sticking to it they should drop about 25% a month or so.

http://heartscanblog.blogspot.com has good advice on triglycerides.

He has been back on low carb about a month and has seen improvement. They are still too high though. His HDL is only 33 and his TG is 254. I did request an A1C fron his doctor worried about the diabetes. They told him "the ONLY way to increase HDL is with exercise." I hate the doctors here.

Yeah, they sound like idiots!

That's cause we live at the beach and all the good ones are "out west" - near the big University Hospitals - Duke or UNC Chapel Hill. The so-so ones must have moved to the beach. We take a lot of doctors out fishing but that is going to stop until we get the help we deserve. Many drink like fishes too! "Stuart - your Triglycerides really are too high.....then a little later, Angie - will you make me and Stuart another one of your Banana Wacker's?"
"Sure Bill....ya'll want some more loaded nachos too?"

NO I AM NOT KIDDING!

I just read on Bloodsugar101 that Metformin reduces Triglycerides. I am thinking this would work along the same lines of low carb dieting. I am wondering if it might bring his TG down even faster. Since his doctors here were all about those damn statins, I am hoping that in another few weeks, we can lower his TG's to below 149 (what they consider "normal" - though I know this is still too high.) I want him to regain his health and then rub their noses in it. I am thinking of adding the Metformin now, to really get a more dramatic drop than they have ever even imagined so we can then say, "Now do this with statins and a starving patient!!!"

Aeroangie,

Have your husband read this. Four patients who changed my life.
I hope that it makes it clear to him that by reducing your carbohydrate consumption to below 20 gm/day, per the Protein Power book, you can quickly drop the triglycerides. AND he can eat fatty steaks, yum!

Yes - he is already on Atkin's. He does very well on the plan. The only reason he ever got off the plan was because of pressure from doctors to be on a low purine diet due to his gout. Fortunately, I learned here that is was fructose that caused his metabolic issues and now we are working hard to correct it.

He has dropped TG from 401 to 191 since October!