In 1997 a study found that in normal adults, the more human growth hormone (HGH) they had, the higher their level of the good HDL cholesterol that sucks the unhealthy LDL from the walls of the arteries and carries it to the liver for disposal from the body.
Human growth hormone has been shown to increase the healthy HDL cholesterol and lower the dangerous LDL cholesterol thereby decreasing the risk of clogged arteries.
A study on heart disease done by Bengtsson of the University of Goteborg showed that the 333 patients he tested with severe human growth hormone deficiency had normal cholesterol levels, however, when he split the cholesterol between LDL and HDL cholesterol, the levels showed a different story.
These human growth hormone deficient patients had very high levels of the very harmful LDL cholesterol and very low levels of the good, protective HDL cholesterol.
Bengtsson concluded that this could help to explain the double increase in cardiovascular disease experienced by this group of patients.
After 6 months of HGH therapy these patient's LDL level was decreased and their HDL level was increased, which is the desired effect.
