Serum Triglycerides and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: Insights from Clinical and Genetic Studies

Lipoproteins are a major risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD). Among the lipoproteins, low-density lipoproteins (LDL) have been shown to be causally associated with ASCVD development. In contrast, triglycerides or triglyceride-rich lipoproteins receive less attention than LDL because there is little definite evidence from randomized controlled trials. A Mendelian randomization study has recently been published in which a causal association could be estimated with observational datasets. Using such Mendelian randomization studies, ranging from common to rare genetic variations, triglycerides seem to be causally associated with ASCVD outcomes independent of LDL. Although the "causal association" of serum triglycerides and ASCVD is difficult to assert, accumulated evidence from clinical and Mendelian randomization studies, using common and rare genetic variations, strongly supports such an association. In this article, we provide a summary of investigations focusing on important causal associations between serum triglycerides and ASCVD from the clinical point of view.