Thyroid hormone

Thyroid hormones are a group of hormones produced and released by the thyroid gland, namely triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). They are primarily responsible for regulation of metabolism, and thus act on nearly every cell in the body.

Thyroid hormones production is regulated by the pituitary gland, which release thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH).

Thyroid hormones are partially comprised of iodine and a deficiency of iodine in the diet can lead to decreased production of these hormones. If left uncorrected the thyroid tissue can enlarge, resulting in a pronounced swelling in the neck, called a 'simple goitre.'

Over production of thyroid hormones (hyperthyroidism) can accelerate your body's metabolism causing sudden weight loss, a rapid or irregular heartbeat, sweating, nervousness or irritability, and other symptoms. Under production of thyroid hormones (hypothyroidism) can lower your body's metabolism causing obesity, fatigue, muscle weakness, thinning hair, slowed heart rate, depression and other symptoms.

Thyroxine (T4) (90%)
Thyroxine (abbreviated as T4) accounts for 90% of the hormone produced by the thyroid gland. It is physiological inactive and must be converted to T3 in the liver and kidneys.

Triiodothyronine (T3) (9%)
Triiodothyronine (abbreviated as T3) is the active form of the hormone. Only 9% of the thyroid hormone produced by the thyroid glad is T3. The rest of the physiologically required T3 is converted from T4 within liver and kidney cells by deiodinases, which are selenium-dependent enzymes. Selenium sufficiency is therefore important for the proper conversion of T4 to T3. Genetic differences can deiodinase production and therefore conversion ability.

Reverse T3 (rT3) (0.9%)
Reverse T3 is an isomer of T3, that is it has the same chemical formula but a different shape and is physiologically inactive. It is also made from T4 and plays a role in euthyroid sick syndrome, where rT3 levels are elevated in presence of normal T4 and TSH levels.

Diiodothyronine (T2)
The physiological functions of diiodothyronine (T2), including 3,5-diiodo-L-thyronine, are less well-understood.

Thyroxine binding globulin
Thyroxine binding globulin is a transport protein responsible for carrying T4 and T3 in the bloodstream.

Deiodinases
Deiodinase enzymes convert T4 to T3. There are three types of deiodinase enzymes:


 * Type 1 (D1) deiodinates T4 to the biologically active T3 as well as the hormonally inactive and possibly inhibitory rT3. Encoded by DIO1 gene.
 * Type 2 (D2) converts T4 into T3, and breaks down rT3. Encoded by DIO2 gene.
 * Type 3 (D3) produces rT3 from T4, and breaks down T3. Encoded by DIO3 gene.

Genetic factors
Individual variation in the ability to convert T4 to T3 after total thyroidectomy appears to be genetic. A gene called DIO2  encodes for Type 2 deiodinase enzyme (D2), which converts T4 to T3. A study of 102 patients pre- and post- total thyroidectomy showed that after receiving T4-only hormone replacement, 34% of patients had lower reduced Free T3 levels (FT3) than they had pre-surgery. Those with the Thr92Ala polymorphism had lower levels of Free T3 hormone than wild type patients. The percentage of reduced post-surgery FT3 levels was directly correlated with the presence and severity of the polymorphism: 58.3% in homozygous (Ala/Ala) patients vs 36.5% in heterozygous (Thr/Ala) subjects.

Mitochondrial function
T3 plays an important role in the regulation of mitochondrial function as well as in mitochondrial biogenesis. T3 rapidly stimulates an increase in cellular respiration within minutes to hours after hormone treatment. One to several days after hormone treatment, changes in gene expression as well as direct binding of hormone to receptors induces mitochondrial biogenesis and changes to mitochondrial mass. T3 stimulates the expression of an inner membrane mitochondrial protein called uncoupling protein, resulting in increased inner membrane proton leak. It also induces changes in phospholipid turnover. ATP synthesis and turnover reactions are also affected.

Uncoupling protein is responsible for thermogenesis, which is why hyperthyroidism results in excess heat while hypothyroidism results in cold intolerance.

Citric acid cycle
T3 increases oxygen , glucose and pyruvate   utilization, shifting metabolism from an anaerobic to more aerobic state.

T2 also plays a role in regulating energy metabolism, although its role is less studied. 3,5-diiodo-L-thyronine influences resting metabolic rate.

Cholesterol
Triiodothyronine reduces cholesterol.

Hormone replacement
Patients with hypothyrodism may need hormone replacement. The standard replacement therapy is Levothyroxine, a synthetic form of T4. However, some patients on Levothyroxine report continuing symptoms of hypothyrodism despite normal laboratory results, owing to poor conversion of T4 to T3. In these cases, patients may add a T3 replacement hormone drug, such as Cytomel, or Armour thyroid, which is whole desiccated thyroid glandular from pigs.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
A study of 99 patients with a diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome found similar levels of TSH to healthy controls but lower free triiodothyronine (FT3), total thyroxine (TT4), total triiodothyronine (TT3), %TT3 (4.7%), deiodinase activity, secretory capacity of the thyroid gland, lower 24-h urinary iodine (27.6%), and higher % reverse T3 (rT3). "Low circulating T3 and the apparent shift from T3 to rT3 may reflect more severely depressed tissue T3 levels. The present findings might be in line with recent metabolomic studies pointing at a hypometabolic state."

Fibromyalgia
A series of small N trials found significant improvement in symptoms in euthyroid patients given T3. (Please insert citations: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1300/J425v02n01_04?journalCode=wzcb20, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1300/J425v02n04_05, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1300/J425v02n02_04, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1300/J425v02n02_07)

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
In one study, 54% of patients with hypothyroidism tested positive for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) as compared to 5% of controls. SIBO is also associated with Levothyroxine usage, possibly owing to the secondary hypothyroidism seen in patients who are poor converters.

Notable studies

 * 2018, Higher Prevalence of “Low T3 Syndrome” in Patients With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Case–Control Study Full Text)

Learn more

 * American Thyroid Association webpage