Blood test results - advice required please

[Wired123]

Hi all,

Please see my recent blood test results. My medication dose has been stable and checked at the same lab each time (fasting, no meds in the morning).

I note that my FT3 has dropped whilst my FT4 has gone up slightly. In addition there is a spike in Reverse T3.

The only change has been I started a low carb/keto diet about 6 weeks before the last tests were conducted.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

[Lalatoot]

You need carbs and calories to efficiently convert t4 to t3. Now I can't say how restrictive a diet has to be to affect conversion, as i don't know.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Wired123

When you look at the actual results, and take into account natural fluctuation, there isn't much real difference at all between your results.

As far as reverse T3 is concerned, who's to say what has caused the spike? Testing can tell you if it's high but can't tell you why. The only reason rT3 could be raised when it's in connection with the thyroid is when there is an excess of unconverted T4 and your results tell us this is not the case.

High rT3 could be caused by low ferritin, by an infection, by low-calorie diets, selenium or zinc deficiency, cortisol issues, stress, dieting, chronic illness, inadequate or low iron, chronic inflammation, high cortisol, or liver issues and any other chronic health issues, and probably several more things.

Other conditions that contribute to increased Reverse T3 levels include:

· Chronic fatigue

· Acute illness and injury

· Chronic disease

· Increased cortisol (stress)

· Low cortisol (adrenal fatigue)

· Low iron

· Lyme disease

· Chronic inflammation

Also selenium deficiency, excess physical, mental and environmental stresses. Also Beta-blocker long-term use such as propranolol, metoprolol, etc. Physical injury is a common cause of increased RT3, also illnesses like the flu. Starvation/severe calorie restriction is known to raise RT3. Diabetes when poorly treated is known to increase RT3. Cirrhosis of the liver. Fatty liver disease. Any other liver stress Renal Failure. A fever of unknown cause. Detoxing of high heavy metals.

Articles

thyroidpatients.ca/2019/01/...

zrtlab.com/blog/archive/rev...

verywellhealth.com/reverse-...

So personally I wouldn't worry about it (it only lasts in the body a short time) and I wouldn't waste time nor money testing it.

[Wired123 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks, so red herring then!

Aside from that I feel much better on this diet, have cut out processed foods and just focus on real food. Cravings and hypoglycaemia gone!