Did you know? To transport the thyroid hormones (T4 and T3) from your blood vessel into the cells of your body requires energy. More energy is require to transport T4 into the cell than T3. Within the cell, T4 is converted to T3 to active the appropriate genes for optimal function of your body. Because thyroid transport is energy dependent, any condition associated with a reduced production of energy (mitochondrial dysfunction) will also be associated with reduced transport of thyroid hormones into the cell, resulting in cellular hypothyroidism despite having standard blood tests in the “normal” range.
Conditions associated with reduced mitochondrial function and impaired thyroid transport include: insulin resistance, diabetes and obesity, chronic and acute dieting, depression, anxiety, bipolar depression, neurodegenerative diseases, aging, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, migraines, chronic infections, physiologic stress and anxiety, cardiovascular disease, inflammation and chronic illness, and high cholesterol and triglycerides. Standard blood tests can be very unreliable if any of these commonly conditions are present. Treatment should consist of T3 and not T4 (Synthroid, levothyroxine).
For references to the above information go to https://www.holtorfmed.com/
Douglas C. Hall, M.D.
