3. Mercury, cadmium, inflammation, stress, nutrient deficiencies and infections affect thyroid metabolism adversely, even if your thyroid gland is producing a normal and healthy amount of thyroid hormone.
T4 is the main product of the thyroid gland, with deiodinase enzymes in the liver, kidneys, brain and other organs changing T4 into the metabolically active T3. Most [>95%] PCP’s and endocrinologists do not test for free T3, free T4 and the ratio to reverse T3. Reverse T 3 acts as an anti thyroid, slowing metabolism and contributing to fatigue, pain and disease symptoms.
Action item: Don’t settle for just TSH and fT4 as the only thyroid tests ordered for you. Be pro-active and test your fT3 and reverse T3 to assess all of the important thyroid hormones, which enables your integrated, open minded doctor to adjust your thyroid hormones based on your metabolism and enzyme system function.
Next, test for the toxins known that affect deiodinase enzyme function adversely. We know how to remove these toxins safely, but you will only make this an action item if you test for it.
Effects of low mercury vapour exposure on the thyroid function in chloralkali workers.
Reverse triiodothyronine (rT3) was statistically significantly higher in the mercury exposed subjects, with the free thyroxine (T4)/free T3 ratio also higher in the highest mercury exposed subgroups compared with controls.
Thyroid hormones and methylmercury toxicity.
High exposures to the organometal, methylmercury (MeHg), may perturb neurodevelopmental processes by selectively affecting thyroid hormone homeostasis and function.
Removal of mercury-containing dental amalgam in patients with mercury hypersensitivity may contribute to successful treatment of autoimmune thyroiditis.
Thyroid hormone metabolism in fetuses and neonates might be a potential target of Cd and MeHg.