Triglyceride levels linked to stroke risk

New research has found a strong association between elevated non-fasting triglyceride levels and increased risk of ischemic stroke.

Results of the Copenhagen City Heart Study, an 11-year-long study of Danish people, found that the incidence of ischemic stroke increased with increasing levels of non-fasting triglycerides. Compared with men with non-fasting levels of triglycerides of less than 89 mg/dL, men with elevated non-fasting triglyceride levels of 89-176 mg/dL were found to have a 1.3-times higher risk of ischemic stroke, 177-265 mg/dL had a 1.6-times higher risk, 266-353 mg/dL had a 1.5-times higher risk, 354-442 mg/dL had a 2.2-times higher risk, and those with 443 mg/dL or greater had a 2.5-times higher risk. For women: 89-176 mg/dL was associated with a 1.3-times higher risk,  177-265 mg/dL a 2.0-times higher risk, 266-353 mg/dL a 1.4-times higher risk, 354-442 mg/dL a 2.5-times higher risk, and with 443 mg/dL or greater with a 3.8-times higher risk of ischemic stroke, compared with women with non-fasting levels of triglycerides of less than 89 mg/dL.

The researchers concluded: “By using levels of non-fasting rather than fasting triglycerides and by having more statistical power than any previous study, we detected a previously unnoticed association between linear increases in levels of non-fasting triglycerides and stepwise increases in risk of ischemic stroke.”

Freiburg JJ, Tybjærg-Hansen A, Jensen JS, Nordestgaard BG. Nonfasting Triglycerides and Risk of Ischemic Stroke in the General Population. JAMA. 2008;300:2142-2152.