What is Pyroluria and how can it be treated?

Could you have this underlying predisposition, that impairs the absorption of key nutrients, Zinc, Vitamin B6, and Magnesium, and not even know it? Pyroluria is a little-discussed, but significant health issue that may explain a number of common medical conditions. This includes both mild and unexplained symptoms you may have, through to some significant mental health problems, high anxiety, and dramatic mood changes.

Pyroluria is a little-discussed, but significant health issue that may explain a number of common medical conditions. This includes both mild and unexplained symptoms you may have, through to some significant mental health problems, high anxiety, and dramatic mood changes.

Here, we explain the nutritional deficiencies caused by Pyroluria and the benefits of naturopathy-based treatments.

Summary of what Pyroluria is

In essence, Pyroluria is the medical term used to describe when someone has potentially harmful levels of kryptopyrroles in their body. You may also see it referenced as Kryptopyrrole, Kryptopyrroluria, Pyrrole Disorder, High Mauve, and Malvaria.

It is a type of blood disorder, linked to the production of?haemoglobin ?- the protein that transports oxygen throughout our body. A by-product of the process to make haemoglobin is kryptopyrrole. Interestingly, this chemical plays a role in the substance that makes blood red!

Normal levels of?kryptopyrrole ?are disposed of via our urine.

However, some people experience abnormally high levels of kryptopyrrole, and this creates Pyroluria and significant side effects.

Why does this happen? The cause of excess kryptopyrrole (and therefore Pyroluria) is believed to be largely genetic. It is an inherited condition. Though there is evidence that environmental factors, lifestyle, and stress can play a role in creating this chemical imbalance. For example, overuse of antibiotics or leaky gut syndrome.

The impact of pyroluria

The most significant effect of having too many kryptopyrroles in your body is that they block your ability to absorb and use Vitamin B6, zinc, and magnesium. In effect, the kryptopyrroles bind to these nutrients and cause them to be secreted rather than used.

Deficiencies of B6 and zinc can have serious repercussions. Together they are essential for the production of?neurotransmitters ?– our chemical messengers. This includes?serotonin ?(known as the happy hormone), cortisol (an anti-stress hormone), and melatonin (which supports sleep). Poor levels of B6 and Zinc can also reduce our ability to produce GABA (a hormone that calms us) and?acetylcholine ?(a multi-functional hormone).

It may also disrupt our ability to properly convert the oils we digest, leading to liver and gallbladder issues, and problems with weight management.

Clearly, the problem can be worsened (or triggered) by a poor diet and not getting sufficient essential nutrients in the first place.

A deficiency in magnesium caused by Pyroluria is a potential health concern, as magnesium plays a role in muscle and nerve function, blood glucose control, and blood pressure regulation.

Symptoms of Pyroluria

The signs and symptoms of Pyroluria usually become apparent in the late teens.

Mild symptoms include heightened anxiety, poor mood, depression, and inability to sleep properly. You may also experience muscle twitches and cramps, irregular heartbeat, and high blood pressure.

However, evidence suggests that it could also play a role in ADHD, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. There is also interest in whether Pyroluria is linked to autism.

Pyroluria affects around 10% of the population, though only a small number of these people will experience the more serious clinical symptoms.

Also, not everyone with a diagnosis of one of the conditions listed above has Pyroluria. However, it’s believed to be disproportionately prevalent in people with those mental health conditions, compared to the general population.

The basic premise is this – deficiencies in B6 and zinc have been proven to affect our ability to remain calm, emotionally balanced and mentally healthy. So clearly a condition that blocks those nutrients will have a significant effect on an existing diagnosis.

Physical signs and symptoms

There are tangible indications that someone may have Pyroluria too.

These include excessive fatigue, acne, white flecks in the fingernails, cold hands and feet, abnormal fat distribution, sensitivity to light and loud noises, and poor tooth enamel. Skin can be ‘thinner’ than normal and may feature ‘stretch marks'.

When you add together the physical symptoms and the potential mental and emotional effects, it can sound like a rather overwhelming list. However, not everyone gets the entire gamut of potential symptoms, and some people only have mild issues. That is why this is often such a hard medical condition to diagnose.

Diagnosis and treatment

If someone shows symptoms of vitamin B6 and zinc deficiency, a practitioner should then progress a blood test to look for evidence of abnormal levels of kryptopyrroles.

There are also tests to gauge how much zinc - and other nutritional elements – your blood carries. Though your recent dietary intake can skew blood tests for particular nutrients in your body.

Sometimes, it becomes apparent that an individual is asymptomatic or has only mild Pyroluria, and they can live well with the condition by simply ensuring they enjoy good nutrition.

However, if the kryptopyrrole level is high – causing a serious deficiency in B6 and Zinc – more robust treatment is required. This would focus on addressing the metabolic problem, and ensuring the individual takes supplements containing B6, zinc, and magnesium.

More on the best supplements

If you have Pyroluria – or you are concerned you may have it - the recommendation is to opt for dietary supplements containing pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P5P).

What is P5P? It is an active form of B6 – which means it is a substance your body can recognise, absorb and use very efficiently. Other forms of B6 have to be converted into P5P within your body, adding an unnecessary extra step to accessing enough of this vital nutrient.

Clearly, when you have any kind of metabolic or digestive issue, getting the best and most bioavailable versions of key nutrients is especially important.

This would need to be a regularly taken dietary aid containing P5P, as our bodies can't store this water-soluble nutrient.

For more significant Pyroluria, a supplement containing zinc is often prescribed. Keep in mind that increasing your zinc levels needs to be a gradual process. You can actually create health problems – such as nausea, dizziness, headaches, and loss of appetite – by ingesting too much zinc, too quickly.

It is also important to start taking high-quality magnesium supplements. Especially as – ironically – increasing how much zinc you ingest can then?deplete your magnesium ?levels.

As Pyroluria is a metabolic condition that creates nutritional imbalance and hormone disruption, other vitamins and minerals may need to be monitored and adjusted by your health practitioner or naturopath.

For example, both copper and manganese levels can be affected by changes in how much zinc you ingest. Also, Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), Vitamin C and Pantothenic Acid may be recommended, to help with your recovery from Pyroluria.

Where to buy supplements to treat Pyroluria

Taking advice from a trained naturopath in these situations is highly recommended That’s because the amount of each nutrient you need – to overcome your metabolic issues and deficiencies – can be impacted by a wide range of factors, it also takes clinical experience to identify this underlying cause.

Those factors include your height, weight, and lifestyle for example, as well as the severity of your symptoms.

Successful treatment for Pyroluria may also depend on your digestive health, as a wide range of medical conditions can interfere with your ability to absorb supplements effectively.

Also, it is important to emphasise that taking B6, zinc, and magnesium supplements is not a ‘magic fix’ for serious mental health issues mentioned in this article. Their causes may be completely unconnected to Pyroluria. Though a healthy, meaningful diet is always a sound basis for living well with an existing medical condition.

Lastly, it is worth mentioning that research into Pyroluria and its impact is still progressing, including the role it plays in fatigue of?unknown origin - Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome (AFS) ?– and also diabetes.