Growth hormone nadir during oral glucose load depends on waist circumference, gender and age: normative data in 231 healthy subjects

Summary Objective (i) To analyse the predictors of GH suppression after standard glucose load (oGTT) in the healthy population and (ii) to establish the 97th percentile of GH nadir post-oGTT according to these variables. Design Analytical, retrospective. Measurements GH nadir after oGTT. Subjects Two hundred and thirty-one healthy subjects (113 women, 118 men 15–80 years) were studied. Results The GH nadir after glucose load ranged from 0·01 ( 88 cm in women and 102 cm in men (97th percentile 0·16 μg/l). Conclusions The results of this study show that GH nadir after oGTT should be analysed according to gender, menopausal status and waist circumference. The GH cut-off should be limited to the assay used.