Pyrrole Disorder

Pyrrole disorder is also known as pyroluria, kryptopyroluria, kryptopyrole or Mauve disorder. It is a genetically inherited (but correctable e.g. using zinc, magnesium, activated B6 & others) biochemical imbalance involving an abnormality in haemoglobin synthesis. It can be purely genetic or acquired through environmental and emotional stress, and especially from leaky gut syndrome.

Pyrrole disorder is caused by the overproduction of hydroxyhempyrolin (HPL). The HPL binds zinc and B6 preventing their use by the body and causing excretion in the urine and hair. HPL is a biomarker for oxidative stress and is a neurotoxin. A stress of any kind will increase production of HPL which in turn decreases zinc, magnesium and vitamin B6 levels.

General symptoms are due to zinc deficiency primarily and include:

• White spots on fingernails is a strong sign of this problem
• Hypoglycaemia/sugar intolerance
• Food and environmental allergies, chocolate cravings, eating disorders
• Joint pains (especially knee pain) & muscle pain, arthritis, spurs
• Fatigue & exhaustion
• Headaches/migraines
• Bowel dysfunction (e.g. IBS)
• Easy bruising, dry skin
• Hair loss
• Dizziness
• Insomnia & interrupted sleep
• Hypothyroid
• PMS
• Loss of appetite and taste perception
• Delayed wound healing

Zinc deficiency can lead to secondary copper toxicity since zinc and copper are antagonistic in character. This means that as levels of one decline, the other will rise.

Copper is stored in the brain (and liver), so many mood symptoms of pyrrole disorder are due to copper toxicity/zinc deficiency.

Copper “excess” mood symptoms of pyrrole disorder include:

• Poor memory, brain fog and difficulty concentrating
• Poor stress control, nervousness, severe inner tension, episodic anger
• Depression, anxiety, mood swings, paranoia, panic attacks
• Fears, feelings of doom, loss of control, despair, supersensitive
• Racing/pounding heart
• Obsessive thoughts

Unfortunately, pyroluria is not a recognized condition by many health practitioners. It is wide-spread and mental health experts estimate as high as 20% of all psychiatric patients and 40% of people with schizophrenia and 5% of ‘normal’ people have pyroluria.