Background/Aims: To assess the GH response to the Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) among children with short stature and suspected Growth Hormone (GH) deficiency. We hypothesized that the GH response to the WAnT would be similar to the GH response to a commonly used pharmacological provocation test.
Methods: Ten children (6 males and 4 females, age range 9.0 – 14.9 years) participated in the study. Each participant performed two tests: a standard all-out Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT), cycling for 30 sec against constant resistance and a standardized pharmacologic test (clonidine or glucagon). Blood samples for GH were collected before and 10, 30, 45 and 60 minutes after the beginning of exercise. In addition, we collected pre and post exercise blood lactate levels.
Results: There was a significant increase in GH levels following the WAnT, yet in 9/10 participants, this increase was below the threshold for GH sufficiency. Peak GH following the WAnT was significantly lower compared to the pharmaclogic GH provocation tests (with 9/10 demonstrating GH sufficient response).
Conclusions: The traditional WAnT cannot be used as a GH provocation test. Further research is needed to develop anaerobic exercise protocols sufficient to promote GH secretion.
