Given a lipid profile with a triglyceride level of 650 mg/dL, what is the best intervention for the patient?

A triglyceride level of 650 mg/dL is considered significantly elevated and poses a risk for pancreatitis and cardiovascular diseases. In this scenario, initiating a prescription of nicotinic acid (Niacin, Niaspan) is appropriate due to its pharmacological properties that specifically target triglyceride levels. Niacin is effective at reducing triglyceride levels while also increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, which can further help in improving the lipid profile.

While educating the patient about lifestyle changes is a vital part of management, it should ideally complement pharmacological interventions, especially in cases of severely elevated triglycerides. Lifestyle modifications alone may not be sufficient to achieve the desired triglyceride reduction in patients with such high levels.

Other medications like statins are mainly prescribed to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and while they can also have a modest effect on triglycerides, they are not the primary choice for significantly elevated triglycerides as seen here.

Exercising regularly and avoiding certain foods are essential lifestyle changes that can contribute to overall health improvement, but similar to lifestyle education, these steps alone may not effectively address the critical elevation in triglyceride levels in this patient. Thus, the approach of starting medical therapy with Niacin