New Research: What is Your Optimal TSH Level?

For years there has been an ongoing debate regarding the optimal target TSH level in patients taking thyroid hormone replacement therapy. Because hypothyroidism is associated with an increase in risk factors such as plasma homocysteine, C-reactive protein (CRP), and cholestrol levels, among other, researchers looked at the relationship between TSH suppression and these parameters. The 400 patients studied were distributed in 3 groups, Group 1 had TSH less than 2, Group2 2 had TSH level from 2 to less than 5.5 , and Group 3 had a TSH level of 5.5 to less than 20, with a normal free T3 and free T4 level.

Overall, the researchers found that normalizing the TSH with a target TSH level of less than 2 mIU/mL is advisable to lower CRP levels and homocysteine levels, and possibly the cholesterol levels.

Source: Gürsoy A , et. al. "WHICH TSH LEVEL SHOULD BE SOUGHT IN PATIENTS TAKING L-THYROXINE REPLACEMENT THERAPY?" Abstracts, European Thyroid Association Annual Meeting, 2004