What is total Triiodothyronine?
Total triiodothyronine, commonly abbreviated as T3 TOTAL, is one of the main thyroid hormones produced by the thyroid gland. Together with the thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4), it regulates the metabolism of the body and affects a variety of physiological processes, including metabolism, energy metabolism and body temperature./p>
Why measure T3 total?
Total T3 is a measurement of the total amount of triiodothyronine circulating in the blood. It includes both the free form of T3 and that bound to transport proteins, such as thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) and albumin. Measuring T3 total is important because it gives an overall indication of the thyroid gland's function and production of hormones.
When it comes to thyroid health and function, it is important to measure not only the levels of total T3 but also the free levels of T3. This is because it is the free form of T3 that is biologically active and can affect the body's tissues and cells. Changes in total T3 levels can indicate various thyroid-related conditions, such as hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) or hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). It may also be related to other medical conditions, such as liver or kidney disease, or be a consequence of drug treatment.
When total T3 levels are outside the normal range, it may be a signal for the doctor to take further action, including ordering other thyroid tests, performing additional tests or investigations to determine the cause of the abnormality, and designing an appropriate treatment plan.