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Plasma glycerol levels in men with hypertriglyceridemia
Janne Lebeck1,2, Birgitte Brock1,3
1Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Summary
Elevated free glycerol can cause pseudohypertriglyceridemia. This study found that measuring free glycerol is generally unnecessary for most patients with hypertriglyceridemia, as it causes minimal false increases in triglyceride levels.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Biochemistry
- Lipid Metabolism
Background:
- Plasma triglyceride measurement involves assessing plasma glycerol after hydrolysis.
- Elevated free glycerol can lead to pseudohypertriglyceridemia, necessitating glycerol blanking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate plasma free glycerol levels in men with hypertriglyceridemia.
- To assess the need for routine free glycerol measurement in clinical biochemistry.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed plasma samples from 100 adult men with mild to moderate hypertriglyceridemia.
- Measured plasma free glycerol and triglyceride levels.
- Correlated free glycerol levels with triglyceride levels across different severity groups.
Main Results:
- The highest observed free glycerol level was 300 µmol/L.
- In 99% of participants, free glycerol caused <10% false increase in plasma triglyceride.
- A weak positive correlation between free glycerol and triglyceride was noted, stronger in moderate hypertriglyceridemia.
Conclusions:
- Routine free glycerol measurement is not supported for this department.
- While glycerol blanking is relevant in rare cases, its routine use is not justified by these findings.
- The correlation suggests a shared association with metabolic dysregulation rather than a direct measurement issue.
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