hGH - Improves Cholesterol Profiles

HGH Growth Hormone Replacement Therapy Improves Cholesterol Profiles - Dr. Daniel Rudman's landmark study of the effects of hGH Replacement Therapy showed that there were significant improvements in cholesterol profiles: increased good cholesterol - HDL, and lowered bad cholesterol - LDL levels in patients whom increased their Growth Hormones through Hgh replacement therapy.
*Dr. Daniel Rudman, Growth Hormone Deficiency in Adults and the Effects of Growth Hormone Replacement: A review, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 83(2), p. 382

In addition, a major double blind study in 1997 by Johannsson, Bengtson, and colleagues at Salgrenska University Hospital,. All 30 men in the control group between the ages of 48 and 66 showed significant improvement in tolal cholesteral and triglycerides- again, the bad cholesteral LDL was reduced and the good cholesteral HDL was increased

Clinical Study - Patients with low HGH found to have high levels of LDL cholesterol.

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.

Normal Cholesterol Levels:

Total Cholesterol
Blood Level	Explanation
Less than 200 mg/dL	Normal. Lower risk for heart disease.
200 to 239 mg/dL	Borderline. More that 200 mg/dL increases your risk.
240 mg/dL and above	High. More than doubles the risk for heart disease.

HDL Cholesterol (good)
Blood Level	Explanation
60 mg/dL and above	Normal. Considered protective against heart disease.
40 to 59 mg/dL	Moderate risk.
Less than 40 mg/dL	Low. A major risk factor for heart disease.

HDL is "good cholesterol" because it lowers your risk of atherosclerosis. The body actually makes its own HDL, which can help to remove the excess cholesterol from the bloodstream and tissues.

LDL Cholesterol (bad)
Blood Level	Explanation
Less than 100	Normal level. Lowest risk for heart disease.
100 - 129	Low borderline. Low risk.
130 - 159	Borderline. Possible risk.
160 - 189	High borderline. Increased risk for heart disease.
over 190	High. Major risk for heart disease.

LDL is "bad cholesterol" and is associated with atherosclerotic vascular disease. The body cannot use LDL so it can become plaque and clog the arteries. A healthy diet is very important in the treatment of elevated and unbalanced cholesterol and is an important measure in limiting the risk of heart disease. Patients are encouraged to eat foods low in cholesterol. Foods high in saturated fat should be avoided.

Normal Triglyceride Levels
Triglycerides are other fatty substances often measured at the same time as cholesterol, in order to evaluate cardiac risk. They are also carried in the bloodstream via the lipoprotein, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL). Triglycerides can vary from 50 to over 500 mg/dL. An American Heart Association (AHA) study in 1996 found that men and women with triglyceride levels at or above 100 mg per deciliter of blood were 50 percent more likely to have heart conditions than those with lower triglyceride levels. Triglycerides tend to increase with weight gain and decrease with activity.

Serum Triglyceride Level mg/dl
Less than 150 mg/dL	Normal
150 to 199 mg/dL	Borderline
200 to 499 mg/dL	High
500 mg/dL or more	Very High

 

Fat in the Healthy Cardiac Diet - Fat is an important source of energy for the human body. It supplies 9 calories per gram of fat consumed in the diet. Although it is a crucial source of energy, it is important (for cardiac health concerns) that we put a limit on the type, and the total fat we consume. The average American eats 155 grams of fat per day, much more than necessary. The American Heart Association recommends that fat should make up no more than 30% of the total caloric intact over one week. For a person on a 2,000 calorie diet this would be about 67 grams per day. In the Far East, the amount of fat in the diet is about 1/4 that of the American diet. For this reason, their heart disease and colon cancer rates are much less. Much of the fat we consume comes from obvious sources: butter, oils, salad dressings, and fatty meats, however 2/3 comes from hidden sources such as whole milk, ice cream, luncheon meats, avocados, olives, nuts, cheese, and chocolates.

 The Different Types of Fat

Saturated Fatty Acids - Most saturated fats are solids at room temperature. They are found mainly in meat. Other sources include: whole milk, cream, butter, cheese, chocolate, and coconut and palm oil. This type of fat is known to raise the blood cholesterol and is considered a prime contributor to the development of atherosclerosis and heart disease.

Monounsaturated Fatty Acids - This type is found in peanuts, peanut butter, olives and olive oil, margarine, vegetable shortening, and most nuts. They also can elevate the cholesterol level, but not to the degree of the saturated fatty acids. Examples include olive oil, peanut oil, and canola oil. Current AHA recommendations advise the intake of 10% to 15% of total calories in the form of monounsaturated fatty acids (e.g. olive oil, canola oil, and peanut oil).

Trans Fatty Acids - This type is a chain of carbon atoms that has hydrogen atoms attached to its carbon-carbon double bonds. Most natural unsaturated fatty acids have the hydrogen atoms on the same side of the double carbon bond, trans fatty acids have the two hydrogen atoms on the opposite side of the double carbon bond. Trans fatty acids can occur in nature as the result of fermentation in grazing animals, so people get them by eating meat and dairy products. They are also found in hydrogenated oils. Trans fatty acids, especially the hydrogenated type have been found to raise total cholesterol levels, increase LDL "bad" cholesterol, and lower HDL "good" cholesterol, which may increase the risk of heart disease. It's not clear if the trans fats which occur naturally have the same negative effect on cholesterol and heart disease as those produced by hydrogenated fats.

The Most Favorable Fatty Acids

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids - This group is usually liquid at room temperature. They are abundant in plant oils such as corn, safflower, cottonseed, and sunflower oil. This group is thought by most nutrition experts to be most favorable of the fatty acids (with regard to the acceleration of atherosclerosis). Polyunsaturated fatty acids can help to lower total blood cholesterol when used in place of saturated fats.  

Recommendations For Fat Consumption in the Healthy Diet

1. Reduce your total intake of fat. All fats, whether unsaturated or not contain the same number of calories per gram (9 calories per gram of fat ).
2. The most recent general recommendation by the American Heart Association is that fat should constitute no more than 30% of total calories consumed over one week. Current AHA recommendations also advise the intake of 10% to 15% of total calories in the form of monounsaturated fatty acids (e.g. olive oil, canola oil, and peanut oil).
3. Keep alert for the hidden fats, which can account for 2/3 of total fat intake in a diet. Read food labels.
4. Avoid foods containing completely hydrogenated vegetable oils.
5. Omit high cholesterol foods.
6. See your doctor regularly to have your total, HDL, and LDL cholesterol levels tested. Patients with elevated blood cholesterol should benefit from changes in diet, as well as health supplements and/or prescription medications.

If you found this page while looking for information about cholesterol you may not be familiar with HGH (human growth hormone) HGH therapy is definitely one of the most exciting and promising therapies to become available in many years. It has been featured on Oprah, Dateline, CNBC, and others. Celebrities have known about and used HGH for years. Research proves that if we restore our human growth hormone to a younger and more healthy level we can reverse many of the effects of aging and improve our health and fitness, and this includes lowering cholesterol!