Pyrol-what-eeya? It certainly is a bit of a mouthful. Pyroluria goes by a few names including Kryptopyrroles,  Mauve Factor & Pyrrole Disorder, but you can call it Pyrroles to keep it easier. Pyrroles is quite common, it is thought that 1 in 10 people have this genetic condition. 

Pyrroles disorder can cause issues with mental health such as anxiety, depression and oversensitivity. Often people think that the qualities associated with Pyrrole Disorder are simply part of their personality, but that may not be the case! If you have pyroluria, there are simple things you can do to overcome it.

Do these symptoms look familiar:

• Anxious, shy or fearful
• Mood swings
• Short temper
• Don’t like eating breakfast
• Inner tension but hiding from others
• Social anxiety
• Heightened sensitivity to environment eg. light or sound
• Acne or skin issues
• Strong internal dialog
• People pleasing
• Introvert
• Stressed by travel or changes to routine

Take the full quiz here

But what is it?

Everybody produces pyrroles in the normal production of blood, or more specifically heme in the blood. But Pyroluria is when your body makes too many pyrroles in that process. This causes a problem as pyrroles attract Zinc and B6 like a magnet, essentially stealing these nutrients away from the rest of the body and causing them to be excreted through the urine. As you could imagine, this can create a deficiency of Zinc and B6 quite fast, so the requirement for these nutrients are a lot higher for people with this condition. 

Why is a Zinc and B6 deficiency bad for mental health? 

Plenty of reasons, but one of the biggest is that these nutrients are needed to create and manage neurotransmitters which include serotonin, dopamine & GABA – the happy brain chemicals that help create a balanced mood. These nutrients are also vital for skin health, stomach acid production/digestion and immune function, among many other processes.

Take the quiz to see if it’s likely Pyroluria is affecting you, and book in for a consultation to get started on treatment. I see people with Pyrroles all the time in clinic, and can’t wait to support you too -treating this is absolutely life changing, I’ve been there!

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