5 min read

Pyrrole Disorder: A Common Cause of Mood Instability

Pyrrole disorder can seriously affect moods in both children and adults.

Social anxiety, inner tension, bouts of depression, high irritability, explosive temper, and poor stress control are many symptoms that can be linked to one major root cause – pyrrole disorder. This common, yet relatively unknown condition can cause an abnormality in one’s biochemistry where the body produces excessive amounts of pyrrole molecules. When the body produces too many pyrroles, this can have a significant impact on mental, physical, and emotional well-being.

What is Pyrrole Disorder?

Pyrrole disorder is considered a genetic disorder; however, severe stress or traumatic life events can also trigger and/or exacerbate excessive pyrrole production. Pyrroles are normal byproducts of hemoglobin synthesis and have little or no function in the body. They are constantly being excreted in the urine and for a typical individual, this is no big deal. However, too many pyrroles can lead to dramatic nutrient deficiencies. Specifically, pyrroles strongly bind to vitamin B6 and zinc, which causes these important nutrients to get excreted in the urine before they can be absorbed and utilized. Pyrrole disorder is also marked by a high degree of oxidative stress.

Vitamin B6 and Zinc Deficiency

Vitamin B6 and zinc play many critical roles in the body. For example, they are necessary for neurotransmitter production. Therefore, low levels of these nutrients can cause a deficiency of serotonin, dopamine, and GABA, which can lead to a wide variety of symptoms, including depression, anxiety, ADHD, sleep disorders, poor immune function, temper control problems, as well as muscle weakness. Zinc deficiency can also lead to copper overload, which can lower dopamine levels and increase norepinephrine in the brain (causing high anxiety).

Common Symptoms of Pyrrole Disorder

  • Severe tantrums in toddlers/adolescents
  • Depression
  • Delayed growth
  • Pessimism
  • Severe mood swings
  • Frequent infections
  • Poor wound healing
  • Severe anxiety
  • High irritability
  • Short temper
  • Poor stress control
  • Sensitivities to odors, sounds, lights, textures
  • Poor short-term memory
  • Poor dream recall
  • Disturbed menstruation
  • White spots on fingernails
  • Social isolation

The symptoms of pyrrole disorder can be mild to severe and are commonly mistaken for other mental or behavioral illnesses. Individuals who have been previously diagnosed with ADHD, autism, Asperger’s syndrome, anxiety, bipolar disorder, behavioral disorders (including ODD), fears/phobias, sensory processing disorders, and learning disorders often have undiagnosed pyrrole disorder.

How is Pyrrole Disorder Diagnosed?

Pyrrole disorder is diagnosed by a kryptopyrrole test, which is designed to find elevated pyrroles in urine. This at-home urine test is part of Village Green’s comprehensive Brain Chemistry Panel, which can help to identify some of the most common biochemical imbalances seen in mental health conditions. Because individuals with pyrrole disorder can have additional biochemical abnormalities, such as methylation and zinc/copper imbalances, this panel is very useful in understanding one’s unique biochemistry for better, more focused support.

Treatment for Pyrrole Disorder

By carefully evaluating a person’s biochemistry, a skilled healthcare practitioner can create a customized nutrient program designed to correct one’s specific imbalances. Beneficial nutrients for addressing pyrrole disorder include zinc, vitamin B6, P5P (the active form of B6), magnesium, biotin, antioxidants, and omega-6 essential fatty acids (primrose oil or borage oil). Nutrient therapy / custom compounding can provide a safe and effective means of improving symptoms associated with pyrrole disorder and other imbalances.

If you have any questions about pyrrole disorder or our lab test offerings, please feel free to call us, send us an email, come in and visit, or schedule an appointment to receive one-on-one support.

 

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