Reverse T3 (rT3)
Blood test for T3 reverse level.
rT3 is an inactive form of the T3 hormone.
A sluggish thyroid is an under-recognized problem in Western medicine.
In fact, most laboratories look at the amount of TSH and T4. But usually reverse T3 (rT3) is not measured (T3 also often not measured). Your body always makes rT3 to get rid of excess T4. If more energy is required elsewhere in the body, rT3 production goes up. For example, due to stress or an active immune system.
If rT3 is too high, the body will ensure that the energy consumption is adjusted by making the thyroid gland work more slowly.
It may therefore be that your TSH is high-normal and your T4 normal. Your doctor then says there is nothing wrong with your thyroid hormone, but maybe your T3, your active thyroid hormone, is low and your reverse T3 is high. If so, something is definitely wrong.
The causes of too high a rT3 level can be:
- chronic stress
- intestinal problems
- low iron or Hb
- inflammations
- low vitamin B12 status
- low vitamin B6 status
- low selenium
- low vitamin D content
- consequences of yo-yo dieting
- MTHFR gene mutation
It is not always a solution to go on thyroid medication alone, the other problems and lifestyle need to be worked on as well.
This test only measures reverse-T3. You can add the other thyroid tests and free T3 to your order if you wish, creating your own study.
Delivery time: Reverse T3 is a specialized test whose results can take up to 1 to 2 weeks to come back. If you have also ordered other tests, you can request partial results for these after one week.
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