What Is Pyroluria?

Do you feel anxious or low? Maybe you have a short fuse or get angry quickly? Do you or your children struggle with behaviour, focus or big emotions? Do you have a low tolerance to many things in life? For some people, pyrrole disorder may be one piece of the puzzle. Symptoms are vague and can vary from person to person, so read on if this resonates with you or someone you know.

Supporting the nutritional factors involved may help some people, and individual results vary. Everyone’s biochemistry is different, which is why a personalised approach matters.

(Also known as pyrroles, pyrrole disorder, mauve factor or kryptopyrrole.)

Pyroluria was first described in the 1950s by Dr Abram Hoffer, who detected "mauve factor" (HPL) in the urine of patients.

When our body makes haemoglobin (the oxygen-carrying part of your blood), one of the by-products is something called pyrroles. We all produce pyrroles, but some people produce more than others. To clear pyrroles, our body binds them to zinc and vitamin B6 and excretes them in our urine. So if you produce excess pyrroles, you may become low in these nutrients.

Zinc and B6 are critical for many important biochemical reactions, including those that influence our emotions and cognitive function, digestive enzyme and stomach acid production, hormone production, and immune and antioxidant defences. They are incredibly important nutrients!

Pyroluria is described by some practitioners as a metabolic imbalance in which excess pyrroles lead to nutrient deficiencies in the body. It is not widely recognised by mainstream medicine and research is still limited, but it has been associated with a wide and varied range of symptoms, including (but not limited to):

Mood

Mood swings
Low mood
Anxiousness
Inner tension
Poor stress control
Poor short-term memory

Immune System

Food intolerances, especially gluten and dairy
Allergies
Frequent ear, nose and throat infections

Sleep

Poor dream recall
Tending to stay up late at night

Hormones

Delayed puberty
Missing or irregular periods

Skin

White spots on fingernails
Acne
Premature greying of hair
Psoriasis

Other

Sensitivity to light, sound, texture and odours
Migraine or cluster headaches
Joint pain

Children and Pyroluria

We often see children with elevated pyrroles in clinic. Parents often tell us their children are aggressive, have tantrums or struggle to focus, and some have a diagnosis of ADD or ADHD. We also hear about poor social skills, fussy eating, frequent colds and flu, a history of antibiotics or medication, and the list goes on.

Pyrroles and Your Health

Elevated pyrroles have been reported alongside a range of physical and mental health concerns, including low mood, anxiety and fatigue.

Some of these can be serious conditions that need proper medical care. If you or your child are experiencing them, please work with your GP or specialist first. Nutritional support is designed to work alongside your medical care, never instead of it.

Genetics or Environment?

There is some debate over whether pyrrole disorder is something you are born with or something caused by other factors in the environment. In our clinical experience, there seems to be a genetic predisposition, much like a person having a predisposition to eczema, allergies or IBS. There also seems to be a family tendency: where one family member tests positive, others often do too, particularly where there is a family history of depression, anxiety, alcoholism or childhood trauma. One factor that may make things worse is leaky gut (where the gut lining allows undigested food into the bloodstream). Stress, puberty and growth spurts may also increase pyrrole levels.

What Happens If I Have Pyrrole Disorder?

You may become low in zinc and vitamin B6, which in turn can lead to other nutritional imbalances. People with elevated pyrroles may also be low in magnesium and omega-6 fatty acids.

Why Is Vitamin B6 Important?

B6 is needed to make serotonin, dopamine and GABA (your "feel good" brain chemicals), so low B6 may play a part in mood and behaviour.

Why Is Zinc Important?

Zinc is important for many health functions, including brain, digestive and immune health. Our biochemistry needs to be balanced. On a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA), we often see an imbalance in the copper to zinc ratio. When copper is too high, it may aggravate behavioural issues.

A Little Bit More About Copper

Think hyperactivity, anger, anxiousness, low mood and hormones.

Zinc and copper need to be in balance in the body. If you are low in zinc, copper can climb too high. We need a certain amount of copper, but too much of it can become a problem.

When copper is high, in children it may show up as hyperactivity or trouble paying attention. It can feel as though messages in the brain and body are moving too fast, making it difficult to focus on one task. In adults, it tends to show up as anxiousness or low mood, and there can be underlying anger.

Excess copper has also been linked with higher oestrogen and hormone imbalances, which may contribute to PMS, problems in pregnancy, missing periods and more. The oral contraceptive pill may raise copper levels and lower zinc.

Excess copper may also be linked with heavy menstrual flow, thyroid issues and gallstones.

How Do You Get Tested for Pyrroles?

Testing for pyrroles requires a urine test, as excess pyrroles are excreted in the urine. The sample needs to be handled in a lab with special lighting, because pyrroles are sensitive to heat and light. The sample is wrapped in foil, frozen and sent to another lab for testing.

The urine test is not covered by Medicare, and we can let you know the current cost when we talk.

Reference ranges for pyrroles have changed over the years as research has developed, so your result is always interpreted alongside your symptoms and your other test results. In clinic we use Applied Analytical Laboratories. Before testing, you will usually need to stop taking supplements containing zinc and B6 for 5–7 days, and we will give you full instructions.

We may also suggest blood tests for plasma zinc, serum copper and ceruloplasmin.

Many clients are also advised to do a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis, as it adds another layer of information. Tissue zinc and copper, heavy metals, and mineral patterns relating to stress, adrenal and thyroid activity can all be part of the bigger puzzle.

A Personalised Approach

Support is not as simple as taking a supplement. Every person is different, with different nutritional imbalances and symptoms. Detoxification pathways and antioxidant defences may also need support. Your plan is highly individualised and based on your current symptoms, mineral status, any heavy metals or other toxicity factors, and your immune and digestive health.

Any nutritional support should be guided by a qualified practitioner, tailored to you, and work alongside care from your GP or other health professionals. Everyone responds differently, and people with more complex nutritional imbalances or methylation issues may need more time.

What Is Pyroluria?