Diagnostic concepts like “subclinical hypothyroidism” have become cognitive barriers to understanding the adaptations and dysfunctions of the aging hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis. Thyroid diagnostic categories are usually based on whether TSH and FT4 are in range, above range, or below range,… Read More ›
In 2011, Gullo’s research team published a landmark study in thyroid therapy titled “Levothyroxine Monotherapy Cannot Guarantee Euthyroidism in All Athyreotic Patients.” Gullo and colleagues examined the TSH, FT3 and FT4 levels and the FT3:FT4 ratios of 1,811 thyroidless patients… Read More ›
I would like to introduce you to Subject #7, the only person in Pilo’s 1990 study who had a thyroid secretion ratio of 14.5 parts T4 to 1 part T3, which was closest to the statistical average of 15.87 to… Read More ›
In my earlier post about circadian rhythms in thyroid health, I asked two quiz questions about TSH, FT3 and FT4 variability. First I asked “Which value varies the most during the day, a) TSH, b) Free T3 or c) Free… Read More ›
Let’s take a thyroid hormone rhythm quiz to get into this article. It’s only two questions long, and both questions and answers are in this introduction. Question #1. Which value varies the most during the day, a) TSH, b) Free… Read More ›
Too many diagrams focus on the “HPT axis,” in which the Hypothalamus, the Pituitary, and Thyroid gland are the biggest icons. Take for example this diagram from Ortiga-Carvalho’s chapter in a physiology textbook. The huge, super-ballsy pituitary. Seriously? In diagrams… Read More ›
In health, what happens when your tissues don’t convert enough T4 into T3 hormone? Your healthy thyroid secretes more T3. The healthy thyroid gland’s synthesis of T3 de novo (from raw materials of iodine and tyrosine) under the stimulation of… Read More ›
Why are some people extremely hypothyroid while their TSH is above reference range, while others have no symptoms and are completely healthy? How important is the Free T3 test when diagnosing true “euthyroid” status within the TSH reference range? Is… Read More ›