 Triglycerides are a type of fat found in the bloodstream. Traditionally, doctors measure fasting levels of triglycerides to determine a patient's risk of developing heart disease or other related conditions. However, recent studies suggest that non-fasting levels of triglycerides may provide a more accurate picture of a person's health status. Post-prandial triglycerides, on the other hand, are measured after a meal and can detect changes in a person's metabolism before they become apparent in their fasting levels. This makes them potentially useful for identifying people who are at risk of developing heart disease earlier than would otherwise be possible. This article was authored by Bryant H. Kins, Christina M. Cyrillo, Nicholas A. Comel, and others.