Gamma-glutamyltransferase activity in plasma: statistical distributions, individual variations, and reference intervals.

Measurement of gamma-glutamyltransferase activity in plasma provides a useful index to liver function. Using as our study population those persons coming to the Center for Preventive Medicine, we described and measured the significance and importance of physiological and environmental variations. We established a classification for the variation factors. The three most important factors affecting this activity were drug intake, alcohol consumption, and excessive weight, followed by sex and age. We suggest a preliminary group of reference intervals for healthy subjects to be used in interpreting a laboratory test.