EFFECTS OF ORAL GLUCOSE-ADMINISTRATION ON PLASMA GROWTH-HORMONE LEVELS IN WOMEN WITH POLYCYSTIC-OVARY-SYNDROME

Objective: To evaluate the sensitivity of GH secretion to the suppress ive effect of oral glucose administration in women with polycystic ova ry syndrome (PCOS). Design: Comparison of the GH response to an oral g lucose load in women with PCOS and in weight-matched normally menstrua ting women (controls). Setting: Reproductive endocrinology unit. Patie nt(s): Eighteen obese and II nonobese patients and 10 obese and 10 non obese controls. Intervention(s): After an overnight fast, each woman u nderwent a 75-g, 3-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Mean Outco me Measure(s): Growth hormone, glucose, and insulin responses to OGTT. Result(s): No significant differences in the glycemic and insulinemic responses were found between the patients and the weight-matched cont rols. No decrease in plasma GH was observed in both obese and nonobese patients and in obese controls during the OGTT, whereas a significant GH decrease occurred in nonobese controls 60 and 120 minutes after gl ucose intake. Conclusion(s): Oral glucose administration was unable to suppress GH levels in nonobese as well as in obese women with PCOS an d in obese control women. These data suggest that both PCOS and obesit y are associated with a reduced sensitivity of GH secretion to glucose suppression. (C) 1997 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.