Triglycerides question

[kdm1984]

Hi, I consistently have triglycerides under 100 mg/dL, which is considered healthy.  I have read recently that alcohol consumption raises triglycerides, but I regularly drink two 1.5 oz vodka drinks a night.  Why are my triglycerides not high?  My daily diet does include fish and nuts - are these latter two foods overriding whatever effects the vodka normally would have on triglyceride levels?

[kdm1984]

Thanks for the response.  Both my parents actually tend toward higher triglycerides, which was another reason the lower numbers interested me.  The fish I eat daily are shrimp and/or tuna.

[James G Beckerman, M.D.]

Hi kdm1984, thanks for your post.  People may have a genetic predisposition towards low or high triglycerides, which can then be affected by things like diet, alcohol intake, weight, and other factors.  Because of the unknown underlying genetic predisposition (likely towards lower numbers in your case), it's hard to say exactly "why" a particular person's numbers may be what they are.  But you make a great point that fish in particular can lower triglycerides.  In fact, fish oil supplements are used in clinical practice to lower triglycerides in individuals with elevated trigylcerides.