Postprandial versus fasting triglyceridaemia: an update

Robert S. Rosenson, MD
Director of Lipoprotein Disorders and Clinical Atherosclerosis Research
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI, USA

The objectives of this review are to discuss the associations between fasting compared with non-fasting triglycerides and the risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events, provide mechanistic insights into the concept that atherosclerosis may be a postprandial phenomenon, and provide a framework for futur studies necessary for incorporation of postprandial triglyceride measurements into guidelines for cardiovascular risk assessment and potential targets of therapy.

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Nonfasting triglyceride levels independently associated with incident cardiovascular events

Fasting triglyceride levels show little independent association.

The importance of triglycerides in cardiovascular risk is controversial. Triglycerides are typically determined in the fasting state, yet postprandial hypertriglyceridaemia may play an important role in atherosclerosis. This study sought to determine the association of fasting versus nonfasting triglyceride levels and risk of future cardiovascular events.