Update on the role of triglycerides as a risk factor for coronary heart disease.

Elevated triglyceride levels represent an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease, and recently the National Cholesterol Education Program revised the acceptable level of fasting triglycerides from less than 200 mg/dL to below 150 mg/dL. However, a sizeable proportion of people in Western societies has persistently elevated triglyceride levels. Fortunately, hygienic and pharmacologic measures can have a considerable impact on reducing triglyceride levels. However, an important yet unanswered question is whether decreasing triglycerides beyond low-density lipoprotein cholesterol lowering contributes significantly to additional coronary heart disease event reduction.