One of the common misbeliefs or misunderstandings of Pyrrole Disorder (Pyroluria) is that it is a condition caused by pyrrole compounds in the urine which cause a deficiency of vitamin B6 and zinc. While this is what the Walsh Institute propose, the practitioners who follow these incorrect beliefs then just treat these 2 deficiencies in patients, but this is completely wrong.

I typically see at lest 6 nutrient deficiencies in patients with this condition, and up to 13 in some. This can be devastating to their health with this number of deficiencies causing a LOT of physical and mental health symptoms.

Many things about this condition made no sense to me years ago, and still don’t, but patients and even practitioners still have misunderstandings about this condition. This unfortunately leads to incomplete treatment plans, and poor treatment outcomes.

The alleged belief about urinary pyrroles causing this condition is completely wrong! The urinary pyrroles compound of HPL (which is what is checked in the “official” urine test for this condition) allegedly binds to zinc and B6 and carries them out of the body to cause a chronic deficiency in these 2 nutrients, and causing the many deficiency symptoms of this condition. But published studies have shown that this isn’t possible and doesn’t happen (Lambert et. al, 2023).

So why is vitamin B6 low in people with this condition?

​The level of urinary pyrroles or HPL is the END RESULT of specific root causes and factors, and other metabolic dysfunctions. Urine and the compounds in it are WASTE PRODUCTS being eliminated by the body. Zinc and vitamin B6 are found in foods and should have been absorbed into the body through the small intestine. If there is sufficient zinc and vitamin B6 in your diet, then these nutrients will be absorbed and used. There is no HPL in the digestive tract to bind to the zinc and B6 to prevent it being absorbed to cause these deficiencies! Excess or unneeded zinc and B6 and other nutrients will be eliminated from the body, but mainly through the digestive tract and faeces and not through the urine. But again there shouldn’t be an “excess” at all in someone with this condition as these nutrient levels are typically LOW!

Then there are the issues I have with the “official” recommendation to using the urine test as a diagnostic tool to confirm the condition. I have written about this in other articles on my website or Facebook group, as to why the urine test is useless and shouldn’t be done.

So why are people with Pyrrole Disorder (Pyroluria) low in zinc, vitamin B6 and other essential nutrients? Because of one or more of the following reasons:

1. Low intake in the diet - often due to poor appetite which is common in this condition
2. Nutrient deficiencies affecting stomach function – various nutrients are needed for optimal stomach function to digest foods and release their nutrients. This leads to many nutrient deficiencies. Unfortunately zinc is needed for optimal stomach function to make the stomach acid and enzymes
3. Stress – stress reduces stomach and digestive system functions, causing many nutrient deficiencies. Even if your diet is sufficient. Stress also causes increased use of zinc, the B-vitamins, and other nutrients, to make the neurotransmitters and stress hormones, leading to more deficiencies
4. Heavy metals – toxic heavy metals can either displace the nutritional minerals or push them out of your body to cause ongoing deficiencies.

Hence why Pyrrole Disorder is NOTHING to do with being caused by urinary pyrroles at all! Hence testing for pyrroles as HPL in the urine is absolutely useless and pointless! That’s why we need to test for what the nutrient deficiencies are in each person, so these can be rectified. And also test for other factors or causes such as low stomach function, low thyroid function, anaemia, heavy metals, the effects of stress, inflammation, oxidative damage, and more, which can be contributing to the symptoms and conditions.

For more information on this condition, I have a 4-hour recorded webinar which explains further the issues of the official explanation or belief of this condition, issues with testing and how this should actually be done, ALL of the nutrient deficiencies of this condition, common symptoms and co-morbidities, case studies, and more. This can be found on my website here.

Stay healthy!


References:

Lambert, B., Semmler, A., Beer, C. & Voisey, J. (2023). Pyrroles as a Potential Biomarker for Oxidative Stress Disorders. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24 (3):2712. DOI:10.3390/ijms24032712

​What is Pyrrole Disorder? It is a little known condition which can be initiated from severe or chronic stress or emotional trauma, which then triggers a genetic predisposition for excess production of a compound called HPL, which causes nutrient deficiencies. Because food nutrients are needed for a lot of functions and processes in your body, a deficiency in more than one nutrient will cause many seemingly separate symptoms. Specific nutrient deficiencies cause symptoms which result in Pyrrole Disorder (PD).
Many GPs and doctors don't know about or recognise PD, as it just looks like you have a bunch of fairly common symptoms, including:

• headaches and migraines
• digestive complaints - constipation, reflux, bloating
• poor tolerance to stress
• depression and/or anxiety
• sleep issues (can't get to sleep, or interrupted sleep)
• poor immune system and lots of infections
• allergies and intolerances to foods or environmental substances
• sensitivity to light, sounds, tastes
• and many more symptoms (as shown in the above picture).
  

 You don't need to have all these symptoms, but having more increases the likelihood. When I see some or all of these symptoms together as I do in many clients, I look for the root causes for them all. I also use a screening questionnaire, analysis of pathology results, and specific pyrrole tests.
Pyrroles is nothing to be worried about! If anything it is great to have this diagnosis, as it is very easily treatable mainly with nutritional medicine! I've seen the condition in children as well as adults over 60 years of age, and it's always a relief to finally have an answer to their health issues!
​Pyrroles causes nutritional deficiencies mainly in zinc and vitamin B6, but also of lesser deficiencies in other B-vitamins, magnesium, omega-6 fats and others. Multiple deficiencies lead to all of the symptoms above, and more. Pyrroles is very frequently seen running in families across multiple generations. It is VERY common in those with Irish and Celtic family history, and the reasons for this are unknown.
Some research shows that PD itself is very commonly linked to, and probably even a cause of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, some autism disorders and other neurological and behavioural conditions.
If you recognise many of the above symptoms (in the picture) in yourself, your children, or other people you know, it would be a good idea to see if Pyrroles may be the cause! I have seen substantial reductions of symptoms with the nutritional medicine treatment for this condition! And those who have improved feel like they have their life (and health) back again!