We’ve come along way from the days when a team of researchers in the 1950s investigated the urine of schizophrenic patients and noted a mauve spot on paper chromatograms (this was later developed into what is called today a mauve factor test) to diagnose what we now know as pyroluria. 

Taking his cue from this early research, Carl Pfeiffer would later develop a similar test and treatment for excess production of kryptopyrroles which involved high doses of vitamin B6 and the mineral zinc. Pfeiffer would go on to produce positive results for his patients with a variety of types of depression. This was then called the Pfeiffer protocol.

Pfeiffer proposed that over production of kryptopyrroles produced symptoms including dysperceptions, stretch marks, lack or absence of dream recall, aversion to loud noise and bright light, pallor, poor dental enamel et al. Other researchers later went on to include social withdrawal , pessimism, anxiety, suspicion and low stress tolerance.

Pfeiffer also researched the concepts of over and under methylation and offered various vitamin and mineral approaches to each of those conditions. Pfeiffer also did substantial research into mineral deficiencies and ratios including the ratio of copper to zinc which for pyrolurics is particularly pertinent. Generally speaking, pyrolurics tend to have a high copper to zinc ratio. But its not just Zinc. Other important vitamins, minerals, and essential nutritional oils are affected including B6 and Omega 6 GLA.

A modern view

Moving forward to more modern times, our knowledge of both clinical experience and the new sciences that followed on from unravelling the genome (including having access to methylation morphisms) have given us a great deal of information that Pfeiffer would have loved to have had at his fingertips. Pfeiffer was on the right track, but his understanding was not fully developed.

We now know that describing a patient as an over and under methylator based on histamine levels is too simplistic and fraught with the possibilities of prescribing an either incorrect or inadequate treatment for patients.

There are a number of inter-related methylation cycles, each with several elements, and any of those elements could go askew.

Sometimes mutations in the various elements compensate for other mutations. Thus in order to have a full picture of why someone may be experiencing symptoms from overproduction of pyrroles we need to have more information and best results can be produced by discovering the underlying driver.

We also have a greater understanding of the role of specific minerals in our body’s processes, how to better balance them, how vitamins and minerals inter-react and how all these imbalances affect areas such as thyroid, adrenals, gut, pancreas, kidneys etc. However, despite the advances made since Pfeiffer, addressing mineral imbalances and methylation issues are still certainly part of developing an individual protocol to address pyroluria. 

Researchers have suggested that pyroluria and mauve factor appear to be good bio-markers for oxidative stress. This seems rational given that the requirement for B6 and Zinc indicates oxidative stress. Oxidative stress can be the instigator of numerous conditions and responding to it would seem to be appropriate as part of any pyroluric protocol. In my clinical experience discovering the root cause of an persons symptoms brings best outcomes.

When we ask the question “what is pyroluria”, there are researchers today suggesting that pyroluria might be an umbrella term for a quite a few subset conditions, each with a slightly different set of potential implications.

It should be noted that a high copper/zinc ratio does not necessarily mean pyroluria and vice-versa. And just for the record, it is also possible to have high serum zinc and be over producing kryptopyrroles. In modern clinical practice being positive for pyroluria is a measure of oxidative stress. It’s one of a few tests available to Naturopaths to measure oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress is a common result of nutritional and metabolic imbalances. In my experience working with complex resistant health cases I have found it helpful to test for the base line of minerals. This then provides a pathway forward in what deficiencies and toxicities can be contributing to a complex range of symptoms.

Food sensitivities, fussy eaters, and digestive discomfort can be from a wide variety of underlying drivers, mineral deficiencies and toxicities are just a few that can and may be part of a bigger and more complex health situation. Many practitioners and patients assume that testing positive for pyroluria is the answer. In my experience it’s just the beginning. Rebalancing zinc, copper, B6 and fatty acids can bring some symptom relief, which is important. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg and further investigation is required to discover the root cause driving the over production of kryptopyrroles. Unlike Pfeiffer we live in a world where we can now test genetics, microbiome and many other aspects of functioning. And we have the knowledge to interpret these results in a way to bring resolution to chronic illness.

If you feel ready to begin your health journey towards a higher level of wellness or already on the path and feel you need a more experienced practitioner to work with you, connect with me and lets talk about working together.