How to Test for Thyroid Conversion Problems (Order These Tests)

Thyroid conversion is one of the most important aspects of thyroid function that thyroid patients need to be aware of. Thyroid conversion refers to the ability that your body has to take inactive thyroid hormone and turn it into active T3 thyroid hormone.

Throughout your time as a thyroid patient, you may have heard others mention that they have issues with thyroid conversion. Have you ever wondered how these people know? There are a few ways to find this information and today we are going to be talking about how to test for this problem.

Before I do, let’s talk about some facts as it relates to your thyroid, T4, and T3:

Fact #1. T3 thyroid hormone is by far the single most important thyroid hormone in your body. It is roughly 300 times more biologically active than T4 thyroid hormone.

Fact #2. Most thyroid hormone produced by your body is NOT T3 but is actually T4.

Fact #3. Only 20% of T3 in your body is directly produced by the thyroid gland.

Fact #4. Roughly 80% of T3 is created through peripheral thyroid conversion in various tissues in your body.

Fact #5. Doctors know that this conversion process occurs and is important but pay NO attention to the process as they assume that it is always occurring.

Fact #6. There are several KNOWN issues that slow down or inhibit this conversion process including genetic factors that are outside of your control.

These facts are important because they lay the groundwork for why we need the tests that we need and why so many thyroid patients miss thyroid conversion issues.

When it comes to testing for thyroid conversion there are 2 sets of labs that you should be aware of.

The first is the required lab tests which include:

- Free T3

- Free T4

- Reverse T3

And the second is the optional but highly recommended set of labs which include:

- SHBG

- Total T3

- TSH

You don’t have to get the optional lab tests but they are highly recommended.

Once you get your labs you can look for patterns which help you understand if you have a thyroid conversion problem. Some of the more common patterns include:

#1. High free T4 and low free T3

#2. Low free T4 and low free T3

#3. High reverse T3

#4. Low to normal TSH with symptoms of hypothyroidism

All 4 of these patterns can be associated with thyroid conversion issues.

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Disclaimer:

Dr. Westin Childs received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic medicine in 2013. His use of “doctor” or “Dr.” in relation to himself solely refers to that degree. Dr. Childs is no longer practicing medicine and does not hold an active medical license so he can focus on helping people through videos, blog posts, research, and supplement formulation. To read more about why he is no longer licensed please see this page: https://www.restartmed.com/what-happened-to-my-medical-license/

This video is for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. It s