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Free T3 Bioavailability

Meaning

Free T3 Bioavailability refers to the fraction of triiodothyronine (T3), the biologically active thyroid hormone, that is unbound to plasma proteins and therefore immediately available to diffuse into target cells and exert its physiological effects. T3 is the most potent thyroid hormone, directly regulating basal metabolic rate, cardiac function, and neural development by binding to nuclear receptors. Assessing this unbound fraction provides a more accurate picture of tissue-level thyroid status than total T3 measurements, which include the largely inactive protein-bound pool. Optimal bioavailability is essential for systemic energy homeostasis and endocrine balance.