Mood Swings, Anxiety, Depression, Stress intolerance? It could be Pyrrole Disorder.
Disclaimer: This information is presented for descriptive purposes only. It is in no way intended for diagnosis or treatment. It comes from my own individual research and reading on this disorder. Individuals should always do their own research and seek advice from an appropriately trained professional. Find a Bio-Balance trained doctor.
Pyrrole disorder could be a common cause of your garden variety stress-head. People who 'freak out' under pressure, have mood swings or angry outbursts, or who suffer from constant worry and anxiety might discover the cause of their liability isn't a personality flaw after all, its their biochemistry!
What is Pyrrole Disorder?
Simply put, it is a massive deficiency in vitamin B6 and Zinc plus several other nutrients, leading to an overactive brain.
- Pyrrole Disorder is a genetic disorder in the production of heme where excessive amounts of HPL, a waste product, is created.
- HPL depletes levels of several important nutrients, mainly Vitamin B6, Zinc and Omega 6.
- These nutrients are essential to the production of the calming neurotransmitter GABA.
- Without enough GABA the brain chemistry is imbalanced toward stimulating neurotransmitters.
- The result is lack of an inner sense of calm and equilibrium.
What is Pyrrole Disorder?
Simply put, it is a massive deficiency in vitamin B6 and Zinc plus several other nutrients, leading to an overactive brain.
- Pyrrole Disorder is a genetic disorder in the production of heme where excessive amounts of HPL, a waste product, is created.
- HPL depletes levels of several important nutrients, mainly Vitamin B6, Zinc and Omega 6.
- These nutrients are essential to the production of the calming neurotransmitter GABA.
- Without enough GABA the brain chemistry is imbalanced toward stimulating neurotransmitters.
- The result is lack of an inner sense of calm and equilibrium.
Pyrrole disorder causes an imbalance in the brain's main neurotransmitters. Pyrrole sufferers might feel they are unbalanced, but really it's their brains that can't maintain equilibrium.
FAST FACTS
Pyrrole Disorder has a few different names: Pyrolurria, Kryptopyrroles, the Mauve factor, Malvaria and HPL. HPL (hydroxyhemopyrrolin-2-one) is the actual waste product that is measured in the urine if you get tested for this disorder.
- Pyrrole disorder is measured by a waste product (HPL) excreted in excessive amounts in persons with the epigenetic vulnerability and severe oxidative stress. When pyrroles are excreted, they bind with zinc and other vitamins and take these important nutrients out of the body. So the key symptoms of pyrrole disorder are actually due to the nutrient deficiencies the pyrroles create.
Pyrrole Disorder has a few different names: Pyrolurria, Kryptopyrroles, the Mauve factor, Malvaria and HPL. HPL (hydroxyhemopyrrolin-2-one) is the actual waste product that is measured in the urine if you get tested for this disorder.
The person with pyrrole disorder may have tendency's toward depression, anxiety or anger, or all of these, due to the high levels of the stimulatory neurotransmitters Dopamine and Noradrenaline (more information on how this works below).
There is no typical Pyrrole sufferer; they could be a person who
- Is constantly anxious or who overthinks everything
- Is unable to cope with stress and either inwardly gets overwhelmed or outwardly lashes out
- Suffers ongoing depression
- Is a child displaying various forms of acting out or internalising behaviours
- Is that touchy person who can't tolerate little noises and gets upset over things that aren't a problem to most people.
There is no typical Pyrrole sufferer; they could be a person who
- Is constantly anxious or who overthinks everything
- Is unable to cope with stress and either inwardly gets overwhelmed or outwardly lashes out
- Suffers ongoing depression
- Is a child displaying various forms of acting out or internalising behaviours
- Is that touchy person who can't tolerate little noises and gets upset over things that aren't a problem to most people.
Symptoms of Pyrrole Disorder
The most obvious markers of Pyrrole Disorder are mood swings, bad memory and intolerance to stress. However, many people only manifest the "quiet" symptoms of pyrrole such as inner tension, anxiety or depression. Several more of the symptoms below may also be present. How many symptoms and to what extent they are expressed seems to depend on the individual's personality and how their biochemistry interacts with the nutrient deficiencies and oxidative stress associated with pyrrole.
Physical
- “China Doll” appearance: fair, delicate features - Pale skin: burns easy and tans poorly - Sparse and fair eyelashes and eyebrows - Fairer appearance compared to the rest of the family (if dark) or strawberry blonde hair - Goes grey early - Abnormal body fat distribution (e.g., apple shape or extreme pear shape figure; the body is storing much more fat in one area of the body while the other stays relatively slim) - White spots on fingernails (a major sign of zinc deficiency) - Tendency towards iron deficient anaemia - Abdominal tenderness (especially in area of spleen) - Dry, flaky skin: may have skin problems like psoriasis and dermatitis - Teens can have joint pain and acne issues - Abnormal menstrual periods - Bad short-term memory (needs to make notes to do anything) - Doesn’t like breakfast/feeling of nausea in the morning - Low immune system; gets sick easily - Insomnia: trouble getting to sleep and then trouble waking up (a “night owl”) - Poor dream recall |
Psychological/Mood
- Depression (including post-natal) - Emotional mood swings - Low libido - Low tolerance to stress; gets overwhelmed easily - Anger: explosive/erratic - Reactive: likes to argue - Irritability with repetitive noises: clicking pens, ticking clocks, etc. - Inability to attend to a conversation when too much background noise is going on - Sensitivity to bright light - Anxious types: jumpy, fearful, tends toward catastrophising and pessimism - Anxiety disorders and panic attacks - Poor coping skills; gets easily overwhelmed under stress - Severe inner tension - Addiction and or alcohol abuse (trying to self-medicate to increase GABA) - Pyrrole is also found with many more disorders such as OCD, schizophrenia and Autism |
Pyrrole Disorder in Children
Pyrrole disorder is a genetic predisposition that may be evident in childhood or not show up until stressful events, including the transition to puberty or young adulthood.
Because pyrroluria is often genetic in origin, if a parent has it there is an increased chance a child will also.
Children will often manifest symptoms differently from adults. There are many reasons for this, including their immature brain, less developed self control and frontal lobes and the simple fact that their young nervous systems are far more vulnerable to oxidation and environmental stress. The smaller the child, the less developed the blood-brain barrier, so any systemic inflammation, food intolerances or leaky gut issues will only put more strain on their system, resulting in more extreme behavioural displays.
Children can also display any of the adult symptoms.
Ticking any of the child symptoms below does not necessarily mean your child has pyrrole disorder, or that it is the only cause of their issues. If you are worried, you should always have your child examined by a doctor.
Because pyrroluria is often genetic in origin, if a parent has it there is an increased chance a child will also.
Children will often manifest symptoms differently from adults. There are many reasons for this, including their immature brain, less developed self control and frontal lobes and the simple fact that their young nervous systems are far more vulnerable to oxidation and environmental stress. The smaller the child, the less developed the blood-brain barrier, so any systemic inflammation, food intolerances or leaky gut issues will only put more strain on their system, resulting in more extreme behavioural displays.
Children can also display any of the adult symptoms.
Ticking any of the child symptoms below does not necessarily mean your child has pyrrole disorder, or that it is the only cause of their issues. If you are worried, you should always have your child examined by a doctor.
SYMPTOMS OF PYRROLE IN CHILDREN*
- Reading and writing disorders, dyslexia - Auditory and visual processing issues - Austic Spectrum behaviours - Kids that prefer only sweet, salty or umami foods and otherwise quite fussy eaters - Food intolerances - Small for age - Sensitive child (e.g., having to cut tags off clothes) - Settling problems as infants - Post-birthday-party meltdowns - Gets stitches in side when running - Social interpretation problems - Major, spectacular tantrums - Swings from crazy happy to devastatingly sad |
In addition, many children with behaviour problems, ADHD and Autism have been found to have pyrrole disorder and high levels of oxidative stress. In these cases the genetic expression is promoted sooner rather than later, and the effects of pyrrole disorder can be seen in irritable children and toddlers with terrible tantrums because oxidative stress has a greater effect on young brains.
More on Pyrrole and how those weird symptoms manifest
What causes Pyrrole Disorder?
Pyrrole has a genetic origin but also can be epi-genetic. That is, an individual may have the genetic predisposition, but it might not reveal itself until the environment causes it to be expressed. Perhaps the individual is fine until they hit a very stressful part of their lives, experience a large amount of emotional turmoil, get sick, or overdo it with drugs and/or alcohol. The physical, mental or emotional stress taxes their system and tips them into this little-known disorder. Alternately, pyrrole could manifest because someone becomes depleted in vitamins and nutrients, possibly due to poor diet and/or digestive issues. Elevated HPL is almost always found along with elevated oxidative stress. Pyrrole is often found in people with "leaky gut syndrome" (although the jury is still out on what came first, the pyrrole or the permeable gut).
Pyrrole has a genetic origin but also can be epi-genetic. That is, an individual may have the genetic predisposition, but it might not reveal itself until the environment causes it to be expressed. Perhaps the individual is fine until they hit a very stressful part of their lives, experience a large amount of emotional turmoil, get sick, or overdo it with drugs and/or alcohol. The physical, mental or emotional stress taxes their system and tips them into this little-known disorder. Alternately, pyrrole could manifest because someone becomes depleted in vitamins and nutrients, possibly due to poor diet and/or digestive issues. Elevated HPL is almost always found along with elevated oxidative stress. Pyrrole is often found in people with "leaky gut syndrome" (although the jury is still out on what came first, the pyrrole or the permeable gut).
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In short, pyrrole disorder is the presence of high amounts of a substance called HPL, which can be due to a genetic predisposition and/or high levels of oxidative stress, both resulting in a severe deficiency in nutrients essential for the production of calming neurotransmitters.
WHAT IS OXIDATIVE STRESS
Oxidative Stress results when the body's toxic load exceeds it's ability to be detoxified. It's a bit like the slight rot that happens to an apple core left in the air. Normally, antioxidants (both from food and that our bodies make) will keep things in check. Older people become ill due to oxidation from bad diet and poor digestion, stress, environmental toxic build up and because their natural levels of antioxidants get lower as they get older. It's a bit of a vicious circle. The more toxic we get, the more detoxifying we need and the less antioxidants we have because we are too toxic!
The amount of HPL can indicate the severity of symptoms. Too much of this by-product has a neurotoxic effect on the brain as a result of increased oxidation.
The amount of HPL can indicate the severity of symptoms. Too much of this by-product has a neurotoxic effect on the brain as a result of increased oxidation.
Too many Pyrroles are a problem!
HPL interferes with the production of heme, the oxygen-carrying part of blood. Depressed heme levels mean lower levels of zinc and higher oxidative stress. These factors also result in deficiency of
Zinc
Vitamin B6
Magnesium
Several antioxidants including C, E, and B vitamins
The oxidation also destroys omega 3 and 6's
The result of severe deficiency in zinc and B6 is a brain chemistry running wild on Noradrenaline and Glutamate, the main excitatory neurotransmitters. While these neurotransmitters are very important for stimulating the neurons in the brain to send signals (transmit information), they need to be kept in check by the neurotransmitters that tell them when to stop, and that’s the job of the inhibitory neurotransmitters. The main inhibitory neurotransmitter (the one that signals the brain to calm) is GABA. GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric acid) is made from the same nutrients that are decimated by the pyrrole disorder.
A balanced brain needs stimulating signals to be kept in check by inhibitory signals.
While this disorder effects up to 10% of the population, in people with psychological disturbances, learning problems or behavioural problems the incidence can be from 18-35% (Nutrient Power, William J. Walsh, 2012)
Pyrrole disorder is not serious or life threatening in any way. However, it can compromise a person's quality of life, and the oxidative stress factor is worth addressing.
HPL interferes with the production of heme, the oxygen-carrying part of blood. Depressed heme levels mean lower levels of zinc and higher oxidative stress. These factors also result in deficiency of
Zinc
Vitamin B6
Magnesium
Several antioxidants including C, E, and B vitamins
The oxidation also destroys omega 3 and 6's
The result of severe deficiency in zinc and B6 is a brain chemistry running wild on Noradrenaline and Glutamate, the main excitatory neurotransmitters. While these neurotransmitters are very important for stimulating the neurons in the brain to send signals (transmit information), they need to be kept in check by the neurotransmitters that tell them when to stop, and that’s the job of the inhibitory neurotransmitters. The main inhibitory neurotransmitter (the one that signals the brain to calm) is GABA. GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric acid) is made from the same nutrients that are decimated by the pyrrole disorder.
A balanced brain needs stimulating signals to be kept in check by inhibitory signals.
While this disorder effects up to 10% of the population, in people with psychological disturbances, learning problems or behavioural problems the incidence can be from 18-35% (Nutrient Power, William J. Walsh, 2012)
Pyrrole disorder is not serious or life threatening in any way. However, it can compromise a person's quality of life, and the oxidative stress factor is worth addressing.
Testing for Pyrrole Disorder
Testing for pyrrole disorder is thankfully easy (no blood draw, yay!), but a little far out. It’s a urine test, but the collection needs to be done in the dark (or as dark as possible), as HPL is very light sensitive. The urine is then mixed with a special substance and frozen before being sent to the lab for testing. The turnaround for results is approximately two weeks. *Update, many labs no longer require the darkness for the testing.
Testing positive
Individuals with normal heme production will excrete a small amount of HPL (less than 20 ug/dl) and won't show any symptoms. However, the person with the genetic abnormality can create and excrete a lot more HPL in their urine (greater than 20 ug/dl) and under periods of stress will really blow this number out (from 40 plus ug/dl).
If your HPL count is over the acceptable range, this indicates you have pyrrole. It will also mean that you will need to start supplementing with mega-doses of vitamins and co-nutrients. Supplements in the necessary concentrations need to be prescribed by your doctor or integrative health practitioner, and zinc levels will need to be monitored, as too much zinc is toxic.
Testing positive
Individuals with normal heme production will excrete a small amount of HPL (less than 20 ug/dl) and won't show any symptoms. However, the person with the genetic abnormality can create and excrete a lot more HPL in their urine (greater than 20 ug/dl) and under periods of stress will really blow this number out (from 40 plus ug/dl).
If your HPL count is over the acceptable range, this indicates you have pyrrole. It will also mean that you will need to start supplementing with mega-doses of vitamins and co-nutrients. Supplements in the necessary concentrations need to be prescribed by your doctor or integrative health practitioner, and zinc levels will need to be monitored, as too much zinc is toxic.
Treatment of Pyrrole Disorder
Dosage will depend on your weight and other health conditions, and this list is not to be used to self-prescribe, but you will need large doses of zinc, B6, P5P (activated B6), Vitamin C and E and selenium (to combat the oxidative stress), magnesium, biotin, small amounts of B3, and (if you are not an undermethylator) a dash of manganese. The best supplements are usually compounded by a pharmacy such as Tugan or Kingsway in Australia. You can get the standard vitamins separately, but you will need to take a whole lot more pills and be very vigilant as to the amount and absorption.
The good news (finally!) is that relief will come quickly, you might start feeling better within days or weeks and a feeling of ‘normal’ can be experienced within a month. However, not everyone experiences a miracle recovery from symptoms. Children have the best prognosis for rapid return to normal, but adults have a much longer history, meaning the symptoms can be interwoven in the person's personality and behavioural patterns. This is where counselling and nutrient therapy combined can really make a difference to a person's life trajectory.
The bad news is that forgetting to take the supplements for longer than 2 days can result in a recurrence in symptoms. Remember, this can be a genetic disorder, not simply a disease that can be cured, so you will likely need to continue to supplement forever and may need to increase your dosage during stressful times when your pyrrole excretion will increase.
Again, I wouldn’t recommend self-medicating, as zinc in high levels can be toxic. You will need to have your blood levels of the ratio of copper and zinc checked regularly. Also, if you don’t have pyrrole diagnosed and managed by a health practitioner, you run the risk of depleting your copper levels, leading to further complications. An integrative practitioner will regularly check your blood levels of zinc to make sure you aren’t getting toxic levels and are receiving the correct dose.
Be warned that none of the tests are covered by medicare and the supplements cost a packet. However, the results can be truly life changing if you are a symptomatic pyrrole sufferer.
Testing negative
Congratulations, you don’t have elevated HPL or pyrrole disorder! If you are experiencing many of the symptoms on the list, you could still have unbalanced neurotransmitters caused by excess copper and low zinc, along with a vitamin B6 deficiency. A blood test can determine this.
Final word
Everyone can benefit from ensuring they get adequate zinc and taking a supplement. However, as mentioned earlier, ALWAYS see your doctor if you have any health concerns; self-diagnosis is always risky, especially where children are concerned.
Pyrrole is just one piece of a puzzle, you will need a functionally trained doctor to guide you safely.
The good news (finally!) is that relief will come quickly, you might start feeling better within days or weeks and a feeling of ‘normal’ can be experienced within a month. However, not everyone experiences a miracle recovery from symptoms. Children have the best prognosis for rapid return to normal, but adults have a much longer history, meaning the symptoms can be interwoven in the person's personality and behavioural patterns. This is where counselling and nutrient therapy combined can really make a difference to a person's life trajectory.
The bad news is that forgetting to take the supplements for longer than 2 days can result in a recurrence in symptoms. Remember, this can be a genetic disorder, not simply a disease that can be cured, so you will likely need to continue to supplement forever and may need to increase your dosage during stressful times when your pyrrole excretion will increase.
Again, I wouldn’t recommend self-medicating, as zinc in high levels can be toxic. You will need to have your blood levels of the ratio of copper and zinc checked regularly. Also, if you don’t have pyrrole diagnosed and managed by a health practitioner, you run the risk of depleting your copper levels, leading to further complications. An integrative practitioner will regularly check your blood levels of zinc to make sure you aren’t getting toxic levels and are receiving the correct dose.
Be warned that none of the tests are covered by medicare and the supplements cost a packet. However, the results can be truly life changing if you are a symptomatic pyrrole sufferer.
Testing negative
Congratulations, you don’t have elevated HPL or pyrrole disorder! If you are experiencing many of the symptoms on the list, you could still have unbalanced neurotransmitters caused by excess copper and low zinc, along with a vitamin B6 deficiency. A blood test can determine this.
Final word
Everyone can benefit from ensuring they get adequate zinc and taking a supplement. However, as mentioned earlier, ALWAYS see your doctor if you have any health concerns; self-diagnosis is always risky, especially where children are concerned.
Pyrrole is just one piece of a puzzle, you will need a functionally trained doctor to guide you safely.
The Neuroscience of Pyrrole and Imbalanced Brain Chemistry
Below you will find more information on the way pyrrole affects your mood.
A short course on neuroscience
(This is very simplified.)
The brain transmits information from one neuron (brain nerve cell) to another via electrical activity that causes neurons to fire. Once neurons fire they need to be able to stop firing. The main excitatory (signal transmission making) neurotransmitter (NT) is called Glutamate. Once the signal is transmitted by an excitatory Neurotransmitter (like Glutamate), what usually happens is an inhibitory neurotransmitter called GABA stops the signal. Glutamate is the accelerator; GABA is the brake. (Serotonin and glycene can also stop the signalling, but we will focus on GABA to be less confusing for now.)
Without enough GABA to calm the stimulation caused by Glutamate, guess what happens? The brain gets over excited--but not in a fun way.
The person with an overstimulated brain might feel as if their mind is always on the go, so they feel constantly stressed or anxious. Even if they are not aware of this, they will likely have poor stress control and be prone to ‘flipping out’, having mood swings and a short temper.
(This is very simplified.)
The brain transmits information from one neuron (brain nerve cell) to another via electrical activity that causes neurons to fire. Once neurons fire they need to be able to stop firing. The main excitatory (signal transmission making) neurotransmitter (NT) is called Glutamate. Once the signal is transmitted by an excitatory Neurotransmitter (like Glutamate), what usually happens is an inhibitory neurotransmitter called GABA stops the signal. Glutamate is the accelerator; GABA is the brake. (Serotonin and glycene can also stop the signalling, but we will focus on GABA to be less confusing for now.)
Without enough GABA to calm the stimulation caused by Glutamate, guess what happens? The brain gets over excited--but not in a fun way.
The person with an overstimulated brain might feel as if their mind is always on the go, so they feel constantly stressed or anxious. Even if they are not aware of this, they will likely have poor stress control and be prone to ‘flipping out’, having mood swings and a short temper.
People who seem to have a ‘three-second fuse’ and just can’t cope with too much going on at one time might be this way because their brain is already under so much stress, and that little bit more just tips them over the edge.
,
Getting groovy with GABA Interestingly GABA--the calming 'brake's on' Neurotransmitter--is made from Glutamate (the stimulating one). This makes sense in a way, as they are the main movers and stoppers in the brain. So you would think plenty of Glutamate = plenty of GABA, right? Wrong. As with any good recipe, we need other ingredients to create a meal. To convert Glutamate in GABA you need additional ingredients, and guess what's top on the shopping list? You guessed it, Vitamin B6 and zinc (plus some vitamin C and magnesium). So to summarise, you will likely have plenty of Glutamate to stimulate your brain, but without zinc and B6, the nutrients that HPL steals, you won't be able to make enough GABA to counteract the stimulation of Glutamate. |
Fight, flee or freak out: The adrenaline factor
It gets worse, I'm afraid. The brain has more stimulatory neurotransmitters than calming ones, and GABA is in high demand. GABA not only works to keep Glutamate from over doing the signal sending, it also works in opposition with another very stimulating neurotransmitter called noradrenaline.
Noradrenaline might be familiar to some because it is the precursor to adrenaline: the well-known flight/flight hormone. Also called norepinephrine, this neurotransmitter is made from Dopamine (using copper for conversion). Noradrenaline is the key to arousal or stimulation in the brain, and its counterpart, adrenaline, is the main fight and flight hormone of the body.
Noradrenaline regulates the sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system is what readies you to fight or flee from danger. It’s very important, as it part of our basic survival mechanism, but we need to be able to return to a normal ‘resting state’ once the threat has gone. This is when we need GABA and serotonin to step in and say "there-there, it's all over now", and calm our brain and body down again.
Now you can see why we need lots of zinc and B6, because we need to make GABA to help calm us!
Too much of this fight and flight (adrenaline) and not enough stop and regroup (GABA & Serotonin), and you will find it difficult to feel relaxed, will be easily startled and/or irritated and could have a hair-trigger temper. As GABA is depleted in the body, tight muscles (often neck and shoulders) also ensue.
Noradrenaline can also manifest as the symptoms of anxiety and hyperactivity, but remember, it’s the ‘fight or flight’ guy, so some people will get anxious, while others will just get plain angry.
I mentioned Serotonin was another inhibitory, calming neurotransmitter, so let's learn a little more about it too.
It gets worse, I'm afraid. The brain has more stimulatory neurotransmitters than calming ones, and GABA is in high demand. GABA not only works to keep Glutamate from over doing the signal sending, it also works in opposition with another very stimulating neurotransmitter called noradrenaline.
Noradrenaline might be familiar to some because it is the precursor to adrenaline: the well-known flight/flight hormone. Also called norepinephrine, this neurotransmitter is made from Dopamine (using copper for conversion). Noradrenaline is the key to arousal or stimulation in the brain, and its counterpart, adrenaline, is the main fight and flight hormone of the body.
Noradrenaline regulates the sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system is what readies you to fight or flee from danger. It’s very important, as it part of our basic survival mechanism, but we need to be able to return to a normal ‘resting state’ once the threat has gone. This is when we need GABA and serotonin to step in and say "there-there, it's all over now", and calm our brain and body down again.
Now you can see why we need lots of zinc and B6, because we need to make GABA to help calm us!
Too much of this fight and flight (adrenaline) and not enough stop and regroup (GABA & Serotonin), and you will find it difficult to feel relaxed, will be easily startled and/or irritated and could have a hair-trigger temper. As GABA is depleted in the body, tight muscles (often neck and shoulders) also ensue.
Noradrenaline can also manifest as the symptoms of anxiety and hyperactivity, but remember, it’s the ‘fight or flight’ guy, so some people will get anxious, while others will just get plain angry.
I mentioned Serotonin was another inhibitory, calming neurotransmitter, so let's learn a little more about it too.
Little Miss Sunshine: Serotonin
Serotonin is the happy neurotransmitter I am sure you have all heard of. It’s the target of anti-depressant medication. Without enough serotonin we feel sad, flat and cranky and we crave carbs. Because serotonin is an inhibitory neurotransmitter, it will also help put the brakes on those crazy guys Glutamate and Noradrenaline by keeping us feeling content and in control.
But here's the kicker.
Serotonin and GABA need to be made in the body. In fact, all neurotransmitters are made from the nutrients from food, vitamins, minerals, trace metals, and amino-acids (from protein). Guess what the two main ingredients of these calming gals is? You got it, zinc and vitamin B6: Exactly the vitamins a person with pyrrole disorder uses up!
When we don't have calming neurotransmitters, we can become more impulsive, appear emotionally out of control and have everyone around us walking on eggshells.
We need zinc, zinc and more zinc.
Zinc is found all through our body doing all sorts of important things; it's needed for about 300 enzyme reactions in the body. Over 10% of body zinc is found in the brain. Zinc is essential to help in inhibitory neurotransmitters to do what they do best, inhibit. Zinc is not stored well in the body and needs to be eaten regularly. Zinc competes with copper: more copper, less zinc and visa-versa. We eat a lot of copper-containing foods and drink water from copper pipes. Copper deficiency is rare. On the other hand, Zinc is lacking in most people's diets and is deficient in the soil, so less and less is being introduced into the food chain. So unless we live on a diet of oysters, liver and wheatgerm (all yummy foods rich in zinc), many people are already low in zinc. So you can see that if a person has zinc-depleting pyrrole disorder, they are skating on thin ice from the get-go.
What's more, with zinc and copper being antagonists, being zinc-deficient almost always leaves one high in copper. Here's another twist: High copper creates more Noradrenalin. This is because copper causes Dopamine, the feel-good reward neurotransmitter, to convert into Noradrenaline . . . another double whammy for the poor pyrrole sufferer.
What?! But pyrrolurics are already high in Noradrenalin due to low GABA!
That's correct, pyrrole depletes calming neurotransmitter levels AND raises fight-and-flight hormones.
This explains why people with pyrrole have an overactive mind (too much stimulatory Glutamate) and are prone to temper tantrums, stress attacks, incessant anxiety or worrying thoughts. Excess Noradrenalin shunts them into fight-or-flight with little provocation.
Just a quick word on a couple of other nutrients often deficient in pyrrole disorder.
Magnesium and vitamin C are the other key ingredients in calming neurotransmitter production and along with vitamin E and Biotin are needed in additional amounts to counteract the oxidation we mentioned earlier. Oxidation is neurotoxic: it’s like your brain is rusting. So while we are replenishing the lost B6, zinc, vitamin C and biotin, we need some E and selenium to act as free-radicals and clean up the toxins.
It's the combination and amount of micro-nutrients that cool the brain of the pyrroluric. The rest of the work--the restructuring of neuronal pathways, repatterning of reactions, repairing of relationships and restoring rhyme and reason to the sufferer's life--this is where behavioural therapy steps in.
Serotonin is the happy neurotransmitter I am sure you have all heard of. It’s the target of anti-depressant medication. Without enough serotonin we feel sad, flat and cranky and we crave carbs. Because serotonin is an inhibitory neurotransmitter, it will also help put the brakes on those crazy guys Glutamate and Noradrenaline by keeping us feeling content and in control.
But here's the kicker.
Serotonin and GABA need to be made in the body. In fact, all neurotransmitters are made from the nutrients from food, vitamins, minerals, trace metals, and amino-acids (from protein). Guess what the two main ingredients of these calming gals is? You got it, zinc and vitamin B6: Exactly the vitamins a person with pyrrole disorder uses up!
When we don't have calming neurotransmitters, we can become more impulsive, appear emotionally out of control and have everyone around us walking on eggshells.
We need zinc, zinc and more zinc.
Zinc is found all through our body doing all sorts of important things; it's needed for about 300 enzyme reactions in the body. Over 10% of body zinc is found in the brain. Zinc is essential to help in inhibitory neurotransmitters to do what they do best, inhibit. Zinc is not stored well in the body and needs to be eaten regularly. Zinc competes with copper: more copper, less zinc and visa-versa. We eat a lot of copper-containing foods and drink water from copper pipes. Copper deficiency is rare. On the other hand, Zinc is lacking in most people's diets and is deficient in the soil, so less and less is being introduced into the food chain. So unless we live on a diet of oysters, liver and wheatgerm (all yummy foods rich in zinc), many people are already low in zinc. So you can see that if a person has zinc-depleting pyrrole disorder, they are skating on thin ice from the get-go.
What's more, with zinc and copper being antagonists, being zinc-deficient almost always leaves one high in copper. Here's another twist: High copper creates more Noradrenalin. This is because copper causes Dopamine, the feel-good reward neurotransmitter, to convert into Noradrenaline . . . another double whammy for the poor pyrrole sufferer.
What?! But pyrrolurics are already high in Noradrenalin due to low GABA!
That's correct, pyrrole depletes calming neurotransmitter levels AND raises fight-and-flight hormones.
This explains why people with pyrrole have an overactive mind (too much stimulatory Glutamate) and are prone to temper tantrums, stress attacks, incessant anxiety or worrying thoughts. Excess Noradrenalin shunts them into fight-or-flight with little provocation.
Just a quick word on a couple of other nutrients often deficient in pyrrole disorder.
Magnesium and vitamin C are the other key ingredients in calming neurotransmitter production and along with vitamin E and Biotin are needed in additional amounts to counteract the oxidation we mentioned earlier. Oxidation is neurotoxic: it’s like your brain is rusting. So while we are replenishing the lost B6, zinc, vitamin C and biotin, we need some E and selenium to act as free-radicals and clean up the toxins.
It's the combination and amount of micro-nutrients that cool the brain of the pyrroluric. The rest of the work--the restructuring of neuronal pathways, repatterning of reactions, repairing of relationships and restoring rhyme and reason to the sufferer's life--this is where behavioural therapy steps in.
References:
Woody McGinness, http://www.biobalance.org.au/_downloads/mauve-factor--woody-mcginniss.pdf
William J. Walsh, Nutrient Power, 2013
Woody McGinness, http://www.biobalance.org.au/_downloads/mauve-factor--woody-mcginniss.pdf
William J. Walsh, Nutrient Power, 2013