Thyroid Blood Work

Question 1

What is TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone)

Answer 1

TSH regulates the thyroid gland, influencing the production of
thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) that play a crucial role in metabolism, energy balance, and overall well-being. Functional medicine uses TSH to assess thyroid function, typically using
other markers to make a comprehensive assessment

Question 2

What is low value TSH

Answer 2

Low TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) levels may indicate hypothyroidism or an overactive thyroid, where the thyroid gland produces excessive amounts of thyroid hormones, potentially causing symptoms like weight loss, rapid heart rate, anxiety, and heat intolerance. Low TSH and low T4 can indicate hypothyroid function caused by pituitary stress

Question 3

What is high value TSH

Answer 3

High TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) levels typically indicate an underactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), where the pituitary gland produces more TSH to stimulate the thyroid gland to release more thyroid hormones due to their insufficient levels in the blood

Question 4

What is Free T3 (Triiodothyronine)

Answer 4

Free T3 is the active form of thyroid hormone, crucial for
metabolism, energy production, and overall cellular function

Question 5

What is low value Free T3

Answer 5

Low triiodothyronine (T3) levels may indicate hypothyroidism or decreased thyroid function, where the thyroid gland does not produce enough T3 hormone, leading to symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, depression, and cold intolerance

Question 6

What is high value Free T3

Answer 6

High triiodothyronine (T3) levels may indicate hyperthyroidism, a condition where the thyroid gland is overactive and produces excess thyroid
hormones, leading to symptoms like rapid heart rate, weight loss, anxiety, and increased metabolism

Question 7

What is Free T4 (Thyroxine)

Answer 7

Free T4 is the circulating levels of unbound thyroxine, an essential thyroid hormone involved in metabolism, growth, and energy regulation

Question 8

What is low value Free T4

Answer 8

Low thyroxine (T4) levels suggest hypothyroidism, where the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone, leading to symptoms such as fatigue, weight
gain, cold intolerance, and slowed metabolism, and it may be due to autoimmune conditions, iodine deficiency, or certain medications

Question 9

What is high value Free T4

Answer 9

High thyroxine (T4) levels may indicate hyperthyroidism or overactive thyroid function, which can result from conditions such as Graves’ disease, thyroiditis, or
excessive thyroid hormone replacement, leading to symptoms like weight loss, increased heart rate, anxiety, and heat intolerance

Question 10

What is Thyroxine (T4) Total

Answer 10

T4 is a thyroid hormone produced by the thyroid gland and plays a crucial role in regulating metabolism, growth, and energy expenditure. It serves as
a precursor to the active thyroid hormone T3. Totally, T4 helps regulate TSH production.
In functional medicine, assessing T4 levels provides valuable insights into thyroid health
and metabolic balance. Levels outside the functional ranges may suggest thyroid dysfunction

Question 11

What is low value total thyroxine (T4)

Answer 11

Low total thyroxine (T4) levels suggest hypothyroidism, where the thyroid gland is underactive, potentially due to conditions like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, iodine
deficiency, or pituitary dysfunction, resulting in symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, and cold intolerance

Question 12

What is high value total thyroxine (T4)

Answer 12

High total thyroxine (T4) levels may indicate hyperthyroidism, where the thyroid gland produces excessive thyroid hormones, potentially leading to symptoms like rapid heartbeat, weight loss, nervousness, and increased metabolism, or it could
result from thyroid hormone replacement therapy or certain medications

Question 13

What is Reverse T3 (rT3)

Answer 13

Reverse T3 can indicate thyroid dysfunction or stress
response, as elevated levels may interfere with T3 activity and metabolism. Reverse T3 is a metabolite of T4 that is produced then T4 is converted to its inactive form. High levels of rT3 can decrease the effectiveness of Free T3 by competing with it for binding sites on thyroid hormone receptors

Question 14

What is low value Reverse T3 (rT3)

Answer 14

Not typically clinically relevant

Question 15

What is high value Reverse T3 (rT3)

Answer 15

High levels may indicate thyroid dysfunction of a stress response

Question 16

What is T3 Uptake

Answer 16

T3 uptake is a measure of the unbound binding sites on
thyroid-binding proteins in the blood. While it doesn’t directly measure T3 levels, it provides insights into thyroid hormone binding capacity and may indirectly reflect thyroid hormone availability

Question 17

What is low value T3 Uptake

Answer 17

Low T3 uptake indicates reduced binding of triiodothyronine (T3) to thyroid-binding proteins, which can suggest conditions such as hypothyroidism,
protein malnutrition, liver disease, or the presence of certain medications that affect thyroid hormone binding and transport in the blood

Question 18

What is high value T3 Uptake

Answer 18

High T3 uptake levels may indicate hyperthyroidism or reduced levels of thyroid-binding proteins, suggesting that more thyroid hormone is unbound and
available in the bloodstream, which can lead to symptoms like increased metabolism, weight loss, and anxiety

Question 19

What is Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOAb)

Answer 19

TPOAb is a marker of autoimmune thyroid conditions,
particularly Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. In functional medicine, testing for TPO antibodies helps
assess autoimmune thyroid conditions, such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or Graves’ disease

Question 20

What is low value TPOAb

Answer 20

Low levels of Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOAb) typically suggest a lower likelihood of autoimmune thyroid disorders, such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or
Graves’ disease, indicating that the immune system is not actively attacking the thyroid gland

Question 21

What is high value TPOAb

Answer 21

High levels of Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOAb) indicate an autoimmune response against the thyroid gland, often associated with conditions like
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or Graves’ disease, suggesting thyroid inflammation and potential dysfunction

Question 22

What is Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TgAb)

Answer 22

TgAb measures the presence of antibodies against
thyroglobulin, a protein, produced by the thyroid gland and involved in the synthesis of thyroid hormones. It is another marker of autoimmune thyroid disorders, including Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease

Question 23

What is low value TgAb

Answer 23

Low thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb) levels generally indicate an absence of autoimmune activity against the thyroid, suggesting that autoimmune
thyroid diseases like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or Graves’ disease are unlikely

Question 24

What is high value TgAb

Answer 24

High levels of Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TgAb) suggest an
autoimmune response against the thyroid gland, commonly associated with conditions such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or Graves’ disease, indicating potential thyroid inflammation and dysfunction

Question 25

What is Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Receptor Antibodies (TRAb)

Answer 25

TRAb are antibodies that bind to the TSH receptor on thyroid cells. Associated with Graves' disease, TRAb antibodies stimulate the thyroid gland, leading to excess thyroid hormone production

Question 26

What is low value TRAb

Answer 26

Low levels of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Receptor Antibodies (TRAb) typically indicate the absence or low activity of autoimmune thyroid disease, such as Graves' disease, suggesting normal thyroid function or remission in treated individuals.

Question 27

What is high value TRAb

Answer 27

High levels of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Receptor Antibodies (TRAb) suggest the presence of autoimmune thyroid conditions, such as Graves' disease, where these antibodies stimulate the thyroid gland to produce excessive thyroid hormones, leading to hyperthyroidism

Question 28

What is Thyroglobulin (Tg)

Answer 28

Thyroglobulin is a protein produced by the thyroid gland that serves as a precursor to thyroid hormones. It is used as a marker for thyroid cancer recurrence, thyroid health, and to monitor post thyroidectomy

Question 29

What is low value Thyroglobulin (Tg)

Answer 29

Low thyroglobulin (Tg) levels typically indicate an underactive thyroid or successful suppression or removal of thyroid tissue, which can be seen in conditions like hypothyroidism or after thyroidectomy or radioactive iodine treatment for thyroid cancer

Question 30

What is high value Thyroglobulin (Tg)

Answer 30

High thyroglobulin (Tg) levels may indicate thyroid dysfunction, such as thyroiditis, Graves' disease, or thyroid cancer, and can also suggest that thyroid tissue remains or is regenerating after thyroid surgery or radioactive iodine therapy.

Question 31

What is Thyroid Binding Globulin (TBG)

Answer 31

TBG is a protein in the blood that binds to thyroid hormones and transports them to tissues throughout the body. Assessing TBG levels helps evaluate thyroid hormone transport and utilization in the body. Dysregulation of TBG production or binding capacity may affect thyroid hormone balance and contribute to symptoms of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism

Question 32

What is low value Thyroid Binding Globulin (TBG)

Answer 32

Low TBG levels mean there is less protein available to bind and transport thyroid hormones, resulting in more free thyroid hormones in the blood. This can occur with liver disease, hyperthyroidism, or the use of certain medications like steroids. Symptoms may resemble those of hyperthyroidism, such as anxiety, weight loss, and rapid heartbeat

Question 33

What is high value Thyroid Binding Globulin (TBG)

Answer 33

High TBG levels mean there is more protein binding thyroid hormones, reducing the amount of free hormones available to the body's tissues. This can happen during pregnancy, with estrogen therapy, or in liver disease. Symptoms may resemble hypothyroidism, such as fatigue, weight gain, and feeling cold, even if the thyroid is functioning normally

Question 34

What is Iodine

Answer 34

Essential for thyroid hormone synthesis, iodine deficiency or excess can impact thyroid function and overall health. Deficiency in iodine can contribute to hypothyroidism and excess can contribute to hyperthyroidism. Assessing iodine status helps identify potential contributors to thyroid dysfunction, such as insufficient dietary intake, impaired iodine absorption, or environmental exposures

Question 35

What is low value Iodine

Answer 35

Low iodine can lead to an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), causing symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, dry skin, and hair loss. It may also cause the thyroid to enlarge (goiter) as it struggles to produce enough hormones. This can happen if you're not getting enough iodine from your diet or if your body isn't absorbing it properly

Question 36

What is high value Iodine

Answer 36

Too much iodine can overstimulate the thyroid, leading to an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). This can cause symptoms like weight loss, rapid heartbeat, anxiety, and sweating. High iodine levels can come from consuming too much iodine-rich food or supplements, or from exposure to iodine in certain medications or medical procedures