Reverse
T3
The
thyroid gland is the body’s metabolic thermostat
controlling body temperature, energy use, growth rate, and
affecting the operation of all bodily processes and
organs.
Thyroid hormone production
is centrally regulated: Thyroxine (T4) from
the thyroid gland is peripherally converted
in the liver and kidney cells into T3 and reverse
T3 (rT3). T3 is the active hormone and is
five times as potent as T4, but rT3 is
almost biologically inactive.
RT3
can also be included into the
Total
Thyroid Screen
on
request or carried out separately. RT3 is primarily produced from
monodeiodiation of thyroxin in the
peripheral tissue rather than by direct
secretion by the thyroid gland. Physical,
mental and environmental stresses can
inhibit the deiodinating enzyme, causing
less T4 to be converted to T3, thus
decreasing the amount of active thyroid
hormone available to the cells. More T4 is
then shunted towards rT3 causing an
elevation in rT3. Measuring rT3 levels is
useful when ‘sick euthyroid’ conditions
are suspected.
When
a patient produces excessive levels of rT3
they will usually present with hypothyroid
symptoms.
Factors
that can elevate rT3 levels:
- Selenium
deficiency
- Potassium
and Zinc deficiency
- High
stress levels especially high cortisol
- Chronic
illness
- Cadmium,
mercury and lead toxicity
- High
simple carbohydrate intake
- Low
protein intake / poor protein
digestion
- Starvation
diets, fasting
- Compromised
liver or kidney function
Signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism:
- Uncomfortably
heavy during or since childhood
- Quiet
and shy child
- Weight
gain after first period, pregnancy,
miscarriage, abortion, menopause or
starvation diets
- Low
energy, fatigue, lethargy, need lots of
sleep (8 hours or more) and slow to get
going in the morning
- Tendency
to feel cold especially in hands and
feet
- Tendency
to weight gain and
difficulty in losing weight
- Depression
- Low
blood pressure and heart rate and high
cholesterol levels
- Menopausal
problems including early and late onset.
- Low
sex drive
- Poor
concentration and memory
- Swollen
eyelids, face, general water retention
- Thinning
and loss of hair
- Headaches
(including migraines)
- Infertility
and impotence
- Weak
and brittle nails
- Anaemia
- Adult
acne
- Hypoglycaemia
- Constipation
- Dry,
coarse or thick skin
- Nervousness,
anxiety and panicky
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