T3 hormone to lose weight
If the thyroid gland is hypothyroid, weight gain often occurs. The reason for this is that the basal metabolic rate of the body changes when less T3 is present. The basal metabolic rate is reduced and you gain weight faster, even though, for example, you eat no more or worse than before the hypothyroidism.
Because of these and other symptoms of hypothyroidism, treatment with the drug levothyroxine is usually scheduled. It may take several months to adjust the correct dose. If the thyroid gland values are normalized, the symptoms usually improve.
It is clearly easier to lose weight if the values are normal. However, thyroid hormones must never be misused for weight loss if there is no medically diagnosed hypothyroidism. Incorrect doses of thyroid medication can cause serious and life-threatening side effects, especially in combination with other weight loss drugs.
T4 vs T3 – what is the difference?
The thyroid gland produces 90% thyroxine (T4) and 10% triiodothyronine (T3). Although the thyroid gland produces more T4 than T3, T3 is significantly more active. The majority of T4 is therefore also converted to the active hormone T3 in the liver.
Both hormones consist of the protein thyroglobulin. This is processed and iodized in the thyroid cells, i.e. iodine residues are attached to certain processed structures of thyroglobulin. The hormone T3 (triiodothyronine) has three iodine groups, T4 (tetraiodothyronine) has four iodine groups.
The hormones have various effects. T3 is significantly more effective than T4, especially at the receptors of the cardiovascular system. In contrast, T4 has a stronger effect in the brain and the pituitary gland.
The thyroid hormones increase the cellular energy metabolism and promote the release of the hormones growth hormone and insulin.They regulate fat and sugar metabolism and have an influence on bone growth, connective tissue metabolism and physical and mental development (especially in fetuses). T3 and T4 are essential for the growth and maturation of the organism.
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