07/28/2026
There's a thyroid hormone you've probably never heard of, and researchers think it might matter more than we realized.
For decades, T2 (3,5-diiodo-L-thyronine) was assumed to be an inactive byproduct of thyroid hormone metabolism. That assumption is starting to be challenged. Early research, mostly in animal studies, suggests T2 may influence mitochondrial activity, fat metabolism in the liver, and basal metabolic rate, potentially through pathways that work faster and differently than traditional thyroid hormones like T3.
It also connects to your genetics. Genes like DIO1, DIO2, and DIO3 help determine how efficiently your body converts and uses thyroid hormones, including T2, and variation in these pathways is part of what shows up in genomic reports evaluating thyroid function.
This research is still early and most of it comes from animal and lab studies, not human trials, but it's opening up a more complete picture of how thyroid hormones affect metabolism.
Dr. Amie Hornaman breaks it all down in this month's DNA Talks Digest.
Find the full article in this month's DNA Talks Digest here : https://thednacompany.com/pages/dna-digest