What fasting period is recommended before triglyceride measurement?

• A. 8-10 hours
• B. 12-14 hours
• C. 18-20 hours
• D. 24 hours

Answer: (B)

Triglyceride levels are influenced by recent fat intake due to postprandial lipemia from chylomicrons. A fasting period long enough to clear these post-meal lipids gives a stable baseline that reflects hepatic production and clearance of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins rather than recent meals. About 12 to 14 hours without food is typically sufficient and practical for most labs, minimizing residual post-meal effects while avoiding unnecessary prolonged fasting. Shorter fasting can leave circulating chylomicrons and elevate TG measurements, while longer fasting doesn’t improve accuracy and can be inconvenient.