What is TSH and How to Track It?

TR: TSH Nedir ve Nasıl Takip Edilir?

1. What is TSH & Thyroid Panel (Free T3, Free T4)?

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) is a pituitary signal that instructs the thyroid gland to produce T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine), the master hormones controlling basal metabolic rate, body temperature, heart rate, and lipid clearance.

Tiroid Uyarıcı Hormon (TSH), hipofiz bezinden salgılanarak tiroid bezine bazal metabolizma hızını, vücut ısısını, kalp hızını ve kolesterol yıkımını yöneten T4 ve T3 hormonlarını üretme emri veren ana sinyaldir.

2. Why Track TSH & Thyroid?

• Subclinical hypothyroidism (TSH > 2.5–3.0 mIU/L with sluggish Free T3) slows resting energy expenditure, raises LDL cholesterol, and causes brain fog.
• TSH follows a strong circadian rhythm—peaking at night and dropping by midday—so consistent morning sampling is critical for accurate trend tracking.
• Tracking Free T4 and Free T3 alongside TSH reveals peripheral conversion bottlenecks caused by selenium, zinc, iron, or caloric restriction.

3. How to Track TSH & Thyroid Accurately

• Always draw blood between 7:30 AM and 9:30 AM before breakfast for comparable TSH readings.
• Pause high-dose Biotin (Vitamin B7) supplements for 72 hours before testing, as biotin interferes with thyroid immunoassays.
• Track TSH together with Free T4, Free T3, Ferritin, and Vitamin D.

4. How to Optimize TSH & Thyroid

• Ensure adequate Selenium (1–2 Brazil nuts/day or 100–200 mcg), Zinc, Iron (Ferritin > 50 ng/mL), and Iodine (iodized salt, seafood) for T4-to-T3 conversion.
• Avoid chronic severe caloric deficits and sleep deprivation, which suppress pituitary TSH and increase reverse T3.
• If TSH trends above 2.5–3.0 mIU/L, test Anti-TPO and Anti-Thyroglobulin antibodies to screen for autoimmune Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

5. Frequently Asked Questions