Familial High Triglycerides

Hello, I had a quick question about my triglycerides.  I am a healthy 26 year old male 5'8" and 155 pounds.  My earlier lipid profile showed a severely elevated triglyceride count of 981.  My cholesterol was not great but not too bad.  I was quickly prescribed lopid and after 6 weeks, i was rechecked and my triglycerides were 140.  Now they are levelilng out at about 110 after about 6 months.  My question is since the Lopid brought them down so fast, would that indicate a familial inheritance of hyperlipidemia?  Both my parents and sister are on high triglycerides as well and at their highest they rank as follows

Dad 350
Mom 450
Sister 1100

I have a good diet but tend to drink a lot of soda and was a smoker before I quit after being alarmed at my cardiac risks.  Does anyone think that the rapid decrease in triglycerides could point to an inherited disease versus a lifestyle disease?  Or maybe a combination of both, but I would like to know how much my genetic predisposition could have caused that.  Thanks so much.

[erijon]

Probably both, but serum TGL's are more tied to diet than other lipids. If you keep the empty carbs down you should see positive results along with the meds, but you have to do your part. Cut back on anything that metabolizes as sugar, like breads, pastas alcohol and of course sugars. Also, stay away from processed foods as much as possible.

This in combination with your meds should keep your levels in check. Also, keep an eye on your other cholesterol numbers. Normally people with a high TGL will have a low HDL (good cholesterol) level. That can sneak up on you pretty quick so check often.

Good luck,

Jon

[dubmustang]

The way my parents told me was that I was at a disposition but I was not helping myself out any.  Do you think that the genetic component could have just exasperated my situation?  Because I am young and weight is in control, high levels for those that are morbidly obese arent near as high as mine. Im reaching here, is any of that blatantly wrong?  Thanks so much for your help

[erijon]

It's hard to have a TGL over 1000 with out a genetic factor. Numbers under 600 are fairly common and usually due to lifestyle issues. For instance, your parents could easily cut their numbers down to normal ranges with the proper diet and some exercise, assuming that is not the case now. Your sister will need more than lifestyle changes to bring her numbers to a normal range, she will need some intervention. I was over 300 and brought mine down to normal with diet and exercise while my parents are both over 300.

The fact that your sister is so high would make me think there is some genetics at work here, but the fact that yours dropped so quickly and so much makes me think you are not facing that yet.

I'm not a doctor, just telling you what I've researched and picked up from the cardiologists I volunteer with.

Hope this helps,

Jon