Hot on the heels of the new DUTCH adrenal test I listed a week or so ago, today I have added a couple of new thyroid tests for you, updated the Adrenal & Thyroid Tests Overview and added some info on Iodine Symporter Transport issues (ooer…).
Hyperthyroid Antibody TRAb Test
First comes the new Advanced Thyroid Test. This is very similar to the Thyroid Plus I have rated as the best for years for the sheer amount of info it gives you for the money. The Thyroid Plus includes all the same markers as this new one but the most common autoimmune antibodies for mainly hypothyroid disease. This new Advanced has three autoimmune antibodies, including the most common hyperthyroid (Graves) autoimmune antibody TRAb, which could be really useful.
It measures: TSH, Free T3, Free T4, Total T4, Thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO Ab), Thyroglobulin Antibody, Reverse T3 and T3 Uptake, plus the advanced TSH Receptor (TRAb) for hyperthyroid.
You can read much more about the different thyroid antibodies here if you need that.
Simply put: if you suspect underactive thyroid, do Thyroid Plus. If you suspect overactive thyroid, do Advanced Thyroid. If you’re not sure and it’s all over the place, do the Advanced Thyroid.
Thyroid T3 Gene Test
Next, I have also listed the new DI02 Deiodinase 2 Thyroid Gene Test. Some people have a fault on the gene that controls T3 delivery to the brain even though results show levels in the body are fine. These are often people who don’t do well on normal thyroxine treatment and who would do much better having that in combination with T3.
I can now check for this gene issue to help you determine effective treatment. You can read much more about it here: DI02 Deiodinase 2 Gene Test.
Symporter Iodine Transport Testing
I got asked about this the other day and Christine & I looked it up (mostly Christine!).
I do quite a lot of iodine loading tests especially when the Thyroid Plus suggests there may be a problem going on with the production or conversion of active thyroid hormone in the body, which needs iodine to work. You can look for standard iodine levels, but I have found over time that an iodine loading test gives better results and you can then correct it and retest after about 3 months. It can make a huge difference for something s easily found and correctable.
But, you can also have an iodine transport problem apparently. You can find out much more about it here: factsheet on Symporter transport testing and treatment. One of the key issues with this transport system is the presence of the other halides: bromide and fluoride, which compete and bind to the same receptors. I’ve offered the Halides Loading test too for years and now it seems it is a useful one for checking this Symporter issue too.
This is what I’ve put on the Nutrient Tests Overview anyway in the Q&A.
I have heard that I could have a Symporter transport problem with iodine. Can you test for that?
We don’t do an actual Symporter test as it is very unwieldy to do and hard to get done in the UK. However, we do know that one of the main causes of a symporter issue is high halides, so do the Halides Loading test first and, if those are high, you have your answer. If the halides are low, you’ve ruled that cause out, but there are others including genetic defects, goitrogens, some pesticides and oxidative stress, to name a few.
You can do the Iodine Loading or Halides Loading Tests here.
Phew – that should help a bit with your thyroid issues! I’ve also updated the full Thyroid Factsheet here so do check that out too.