Can alcohol cause high triglyceride levels?

Question

Hi doctor,

I am 21, and my doctor said my triglyceride levels are much higher than they should be. I drink on weekends with friends and did not think it was a big deal.

I have heard that alcohol can significantly raise triglyceride levels.

How does that work?
If I stop drinking for a while, will my numbers go down quickly?

Please help.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

The use of ultrasound can identify subclinical cases of arthritis that cannot be detected on clinical exam. But it is not enough on its own. The use of ultrasound can improve the clinical exam and lab work by providing evidence that cannot be seen physically. But the reliability of ultrasound results relies on both the person performing the procedure and the machine used.

In this case of polyarthralgia, a differential diagnosis needs to be made; thus, a complete lab workup needs to be done. The cause might be an autoimmune problem, an endocrine problem, a viral infection, or fibromyalgia. We will know more after we see the results of the ultrasound and the lab work.

The following investigations should be conducted:

CBC (complete blood count).
ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate).
CRP (C-reactive protein).
ALT (alanine aminotransferase).
AST (aspartate aminotransferase).
Serum Creatinine.
HCV antibody (hepatitis C).
HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen).
HIV antibody.
RF (rheumatoid factor).
Anti-CCP (anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide).
ANA (antinuclear antibody) by the immunofluorescence technique.
TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone).
FT3 (free triiodothyronine).
FT4 (free thyroxine).

We will monitor the laboratory results as they become available.

Feel free to contact me for any other questions.

Thank you.