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Thyroid Hormone Metabolism

Meaning

Thyroid hormone metabolism encompasses the entire physiological process of synthesizing, secreting, transporting, peripherally converting, and ultimately degrading the thyroid hormones, primarily the prohormone thyroxine (T4) and the active triiodothyronine (T3). This complex cascade, tightly regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis, dictates the final availability of the biologically potent T3 at the cellular level, profoundly influencing basal metabolic rate, protein synthesis, and sensitivity to other hormones. Disruptions in this intricate metabolism can lead to widespread systemic issues, including profound energy imbalance, weight dysregulation, and neurocognitive impairment.