Pyroluria

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Some information in this article or section is not attributed to sources and may not be reliable.
Please check for inaccuracies, and modify and cite sources as needed.
This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards.
Please discuss this issue on the talk page or replace this tag with a more specific message.
This article has been tagged since March 2007.

Pyroluria (or malvaria from the term mauve factor) is a controversial medical condition alleged to be caused by the the presence of excess pyrroles (a group of chemical compounds) in human urine. [1]

It was initially described by Abram Hoffer,[2] a pioneer in orthomolecular medicine[3] as well as orthomolecular psychiatry, and substantially extended by Carl Pfeiffer.[4] Proponents claim that pyroluria is relatively common (according to Pfeiffer, pyroluria is a form of schizophrenic porphyria, similar to acute intermittent porphyria where both pyrroles and porphyrins are excreted in the urine to an excessive degree.[1]) but few, if any, mainstream medical experts regard the condition as genuine, with few or no articles on Pyroluria found in medical literature.[5]

Contents

[edit] Proponents' arguments

According to proponents, one of the pyrroles (kryptopyrrole)[6] is a by-product of hemoglobin synthesis.[7] Pyrroles bind to vitamin B6, then to zinc and is eliminated through urine, potentially causing deficiencies of these compounds. Pyrolurics may also become deficient in omega-6 fatty acids ( specifically arachidonic acid). Leukemia is a symptom of pyroluria, caused by zinc deficiency. However, not all people with pyroluria develop these deficiencies, as pyroluria manifests itself at different strengths in different individuals. A pyroluric with a diet containing enough B6 and zinc to offset low-level pyrolurism may remain symptomless, even with the diagnosis of pyroluria.

Pyroluria is often diagnosed in people with ADHD, schizophrenia, autism, alcoholism, manic-depression and depression. Individuals who test strongly for pyroluria may be diagnosed with coeliac disease, epilepsy, or psychosis; these may be mis-diagnoses, actually representing symptoms of the underlying pyroluria.[8] The ability for an individual to suffer from pyroluria is believed to have a high degree of genetic origin, with the condition known to run in families. Severity usually waxes and wanes with the level of stress being experienced by the sufferer. Some individuals with pyroluric tendencies may test within the normal range at times when their pyrolurism has ebbed.[7]

[edit] Diet

Food allergies, also known as cerebral allergies[9], are common in individuals with Pyroluria.[10] Some foods may also be helpful in the treatment of pyroluria.[11]

[edit] Epilepsy

Pyroluria can cause seizures related to vitamin B6 deficiency and is also associated with gluten/casein sensitivity.[12] Some individuals that have a seizure disorder should be cautious in the use of both evening primrose oil and vitamin B3 because these two supplements are known to lower the threshold for seizures.[citation needed]

[edit] References

  • Hoffer, Abram (2004). Healing Schizophrenia: Complementary Vitamin & Drug Treatments. CCNM Press. ISBN 1-897025-08-4. 
  • Braverman, Eric; Pfeiffer, C., Blum, K. & Smayda, R. (2003). The Healing Nutrients Within: Facts, Findings, and New Research on Amino Acids, 3rd, Basic Health Publications. ISBN 1-59120-037-7. 
  • Reading, Chris M.; Meillon, R.S. (2002). Trace Your Genes to Health: Use Your Family Tree to Guide Your Diet, Enhance Your Immune System and Overcome Chronic Disease. Vital Health Publishing. ISBN 1-890612-23-5. 
  • Edelman, Eva (2001). Natural Healing for Schizophrenia: And Other Common Mental Disorders. Borage Books. ISBN 0-9650976-7-6. 
  • Hoffer, Abram (1999). Orthomolecular Treatment for Schizophrenia: Megavitamin supplements and nutritional strategies for healing and recovery. Keats Publishing. ISBN 0-87983-910-4. 
  • Pfeiffer, Carl C. (1988). Nutrition and Mental Illness : An Orthomolecular Approach to Balancing Body Chemistry. Healing Arts Press. ISBN 0-89281-226-5. 

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ a b Polyuria. Nutritional Healing: A resource for nutritional medicine. Retrieved on March 4, 2007.
  2. ^ Lifetime achievement gala dinner honouring Abram Hoffer, MD, PhD (pdf). orthomed.org. Retrieved on March 4, 2004.
  3. ^ Wunderlich, Ray C.. Orthomolecular Medicine Revisited. orthomed.org. Retrieved on March 4, 2004.
  4. ^ Saul, A.W.; Jolliffe, M. & Hoffer, A. Bibliography of the Publications of Carl Pfeiffer, MD, PhD. Retrieved on November 4, 2006.
  5. ^ National Library for Health (2005-10-05). What is pyroluria, is it an accepted clinical entity and what are the treatment?. Retrieved on September 19, 2006.
  6. ^ Kryptopyrroles. Individual WellBeing Diagnostic Laboratories (2007-04-03). Retrieved on April 6, 2007.
  7. ^ a b Tests for Treateable Biochemical Dis. Assoc. With Anxiety (2006-04-05). Retrieved on April 6, 2007.
  8. ^ Pyroluria and Elevated Kryptopyrrole. Direct Healthcare Access II Laboratory Inc.. Retrieved on April 6, 2007.
  9. ^ Cerebral Allergies
  10. ^ Safe Harbor: International Guide to the World of Alternative Mental Health Brain Allergies, AlternativeMentalHealth.com, Patrick Holford, accessed 9 March 2007
  11. ^ Ask Cure Zone Community Foods to Help Pyroluria, CureZone.com, White Tiger, accessed 8 March 2007.
  12. ^ Seizures / Epilepsy: The Gluten File jccglutenfree.googlepages.com, Accessed February 14, 2007

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../p/y/r/Pyroluria.html"
In other languages