Thyroid hormones are responsible for increasing which of the following?

Thyroid hormones, including thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), play a significant role in regulating metabolism and maintaining energy homeostasis in the body. One of their key effects is to increase the metabolic rate, which can lead to an increase in body temperature. This is often referred to as the calorigenic effect, where an increase in metabolic processes generates more heat, thereby raising body temperature.

Thyroid hormones stimulate various enzymatic reactions involved in metabolism, including those associated with the oxidation of glucose and fatty acids. This heightened metabolic activity consequently results in more heat production. An increase in body temperature can be observed in conditions of hyperthyroidism, where there is an excess of thyroid hormones.

In contrast to this, while thyroid hormones may have an indirect effect on blood glucose through their influence on metabolism, they do not directly increase blood glucose levels as a primary function. The regulation of calcium levels is primarily influenced by parathyroid hormone and calcitonin, not thyroid hormones. Additionally, thyroid hormones generally promote the mobilization of fat rather than fat storage, as they enhance lipolysis in adipose tissue.

Thus, the presence and action of thyroid hormones lead to an increase in body temperature as