Genetics linked to a type of fat

Triglycerides, or TGs, are a type of fat. They are in the foods we eat. Like butter and oils. And anything made with these. Like cakes, cookies, or fried foods. Meat and dairy also have TGs. We also make TGs if we eat more than we need. Our liver changes the extra calories into TGs. A type of cholesterol particle carries them around in our blood. And stores them in fat cells for later. Or when we need energy, from the fat cells to where they need to go. We need TGs. But too much can be bad for us.High TGs can raise our risk for heart disease. Over time, eating more than you need can cause high TGs. Smoking and drinking too much alcohol can also lead to high TGs. So can being overweight. Or taking certain medicines. Some diseases can also raise your TG levels. Gene changes can also play a part. Some can put us at risk for high TG levels. But others may lower our level of TGs.Some Black people have very low levels of TGs. This is good. Scientists at Vanderbilt University Medical Center will use BioVU to learn more. They will look for healthy Black patients with low triglyceride levels. Then they will look for gene changes. The goal is to learn more about the gene changes linked to low TGs. The gene changes may help us find a new way to treat people with high TGs.