From the Research
An elevated reverse T3 (rT3) level of 28.9 typically indicates that your body is converting the thyroid hormone T4 into the inactive form (rT3) rather than the active form (T3), which can occur during times of physical or emotional stress, illness, calorie restriction, or certain medications, as noted in a study published in the Annals of clinical biochemistry 1. This often occurs as a protective mechanism to conserve energy during challenging periods.
Common Causes of Elevated rT3
- Chronic illness
- Severe calorie restriction
- Intense physical stress
- Prolonged fasting
- Liver or kidney dysfunction
- Certain medications (like beta-blockers, steroids, or amiodarone)
- Chronic inflammation To address elevated rT3, it is essential to focus on resolving underlying stressors, ensuring adequate calorie intake, managing chronic conditions, getting sufficient sleep, and considering nutritional factors like selenium and zinc intake, as selenium plays a crucial role in thyroid hormone metabolism and is a component of the deiodinases that convert T4 to T3 2. If you're experiencing symptoms like fatigue, weight changes, or mood issues despite normal TSH levels, it is crucial to discuss this result with your healthcare provider, as it may indicate a condition called "thyroid resistance" or "low T3 syndrome" that might benefit from further evaluation or treatment adjustments, and it is recommended to trust the expertise of an endocrinologist in interpreting thyroid function tests, including reverse T3 testing 3.