Dyslipidaemia

Key points

• Dyslipidaemia covers several patterns of abnormal blood fat, including high triglycerides, low HDL and raised LDL cholesterol.
• A minority of cases run in families as familial dyslipidaemia, but most stem from diet, inactivity, excess weight or poorly controlled diabetes.
• When lifestyle changes are not enough, fibrates like gemfibrozil are especially effective at cutting triglycerides and lifting HDL levels.

What shifts the balance

Genetics account for some cases, familial dyslipidaemia runs in families and often needs early attention. More often the causes are lifestyle: a diet heavy in fried foods, white rice, and processed snacks; physical inactivity; excess weight around the abdomen; heavy alcohol intake; and poorly controlled type 2 diabetes or hypothyroidism. Secondary dyslipidaemia driven by these underlying conditions often improves considerably once the root cause is addressed.

How it is managed

Lifestyle change is the first step: reducing saturated fat, increasing fibre, exercising regularly, and limiting alcohol. When lipid levels remain out of range despite these changes, medicines are added. Fibrates such as gemfibrozil are particularly effective at lowering high triglycerides and raising HDL. Broader cholesterol management often requires a combination approach tailored to which lipid fraction is most out of range. Blood tests every few months track whether treatment is working.

Further reading

• 2026 ACC/AHA/Multisociety Dyslipidemia Guideline Released - National Lipid Association
• what to do if your cholesterol is too high | healthdirect
• Dyslipidaemia - Chronic Conditions Manual
• Top Things to Know: Guideline on the Management of Dyslipidemia