Successful long-term treatment of severe hypertriglyceridemia by feedback control with lipid self-monitoring.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Successful treatment of severe hypertriglyceridemia is difficult. Besides therapy with different drugs, dietary intervention is an important approach. However, compliance with dietary recommendations is usually bad. Lipid self-monitoring in patients might improve dietary compliance and control of lipid parameters.

METHODS

Thirty-two patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia (>750 mg/dl) were primarily treated with a formula diet reducing the triglyceride levels <600 mg/dl. After this acute treatment, self-monitoring of lipid parameters was performed for 48 weeks. Twenty-five patients completed the whole study. The participants measured their lipid parameters with Accutrend GCT dry chemistry strips. Dietary records were taken and measurements of body composition, BMI, triglycerides, total cholesterol and glucose were performed.

RESULTS

Triglycerides remained stable in patients with levels <300 mg/dl at the beginning of the protocol. There was a significant decline in triglycerides in those who started with levels >300 mg/dl. No severe hypertriglyceridemia (>750 mg/dl) could be observed. The energy intake decreased in all patients due to a reduction in total fat and carbohydrate consumption. The relation between carbohydrates and protein remained unchanged. Self-measurement was well tolerated and an improvement in controlling the diet was reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Self-control of lipid parameters can improve the dietary compliance of patients with hypertriglyceridemia and is well tolerated.