Heart, metabolismmg/dl
Triglycerides
Optimal
< 100 mg/dl (1.1 mmol/l) fasting; TG/HDL ratio < 2
Why
Fat circulating in the blood; a high value is the earliest lab sign of insulin resistance and fatty liver — years before glucose rises. The TG/HDL ratio is a cheap proxy for HOMA-IR.
How often
Yearly, as part of the lipid panel.
What moves it
The fastest-responding marker: cutting sugar and alcohol (–20–40% within weeks), fewer refined carbs, omega-3 2–4 g (–20–30%), weight loss, exercise.
Last reviewed: 6 September 2026
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