Pyroluria Questionnaire from The Antianxiety Food Solution
This questionnaire will help you identify whether you might have pyroluria. The physical and emotional symptoms below are caused by deficiencies of vitamin B6 and zinc. When you experience high levels of stress, vitamin B6 and zinc will be further depleted, so you may notice worsening symptoms and more anxiety.
Based on my review of questionnaires and results of pyroluria tests for hundreds of clients, I’ve grouped the most common or classic signs and symptoms first. I’ve also labeled the symptoms that could be directly related to low levels of vitamin B6 or zinc so you can individualize your supplements and dosages. Symptoms without these designations are due to a deficiency of both vitamin B6 and zinc. Check off any of the following signs or symptoms that apply to you:
Most Common Signs and Symptoms
- Being anxious, shy, or fearful or experiencing inner tension since childhood, but hiding these feelings from others
- Having bouts of depression or nervous exhaustion
- Poor dream recall, stressful or bizarre dreams, or nightmares (low vitamin B6)
- Excessive reactions to tranquilizers, barbiturates, alcohol, or other drugs, in which a little produces a powerful response (low vitamin B6)
- Preferring not to eat breakfast, experiencing light nausea in the morning, or being prone to motion sickness (low vitamin B6)
- White spots or flecks on the fingernails or opaquely white or paper-thin nails (low zinc)
- Liquid zinc sulfate having a mild taste or tasting like water (low zinc)
- Poor appetite or having a poor sense of smell or taste (low zinc)
- Joints popping, cracking, or aching; pain or discomfort between the shoulder blades; or cartilage problems (low zinc)
- Pale or fair skin or being the palest in the family, or sunburning easily, now or when younger
- Disliking protein or having ever been a vegetarian or vegan
- Being sensitive to bright sunlight or noise
- Upper abdominal pain on your left side under the ribs or, as a child, having a stitch in your side as you ran
- Frequent fatigue
- Being prone to iron anemia or low ferritin levels
- Tending to have cold hands or feet
- Having frequent colds or infections, or unexplained chills or fever
- Reaching puberty later than normal or having irregular menstruation or PMS
- Having allergies, adrenal issues, or problems with sugar metabolism
- Having gluten sensitivity
- Neurotransmitter imbalances, especially low serotonin
- For women, belonging to an all-girl family or having look-alike sisters
- For men, having a mother from an all-girl family or a mother with look-alike sisters, or all the females in the mother’s family bearing a strong resemblance to each other
- Avoiding stress because it upsets your emotional balance
- Tending to become dependent on one person whom you build your life around
- Preferring the company of one or two close friends rather than a gathering of friends; becoming more of a loner as you age
- Feeling uncomfortable with strangers
- Being bothered by being seated in the middle of the room in a restaurant
- Being easily upset by criticism
Less Common Signs and Symptoms
- Stretch marks or poor wound healing (low zinc)
- Crowded upper front teeth, many cavities, or inflamed gums or wearing braces (low zinc)
- Bad breath and body odor (or a sweet, fruity odor), especially when ill or stressed (low zinc)
- Being prone to acne, eczema, herpes, or psoriasis
- Reduced amount of hair on your head, eyebrows, or eyelashes, or prematurely gray hair
- Difficultly recalling past events and people in your life
- Focusing internally, on yourself, rather than on the external world
- Tending to have morning constipation
- Tingling sensations or muscle spasms in your legs or arms
- Feeling stressed by changes in your routine, such as traveling or being in new situations
- Your face looking swollen when you’re under a lot of stress
- Cluster headaches or blinding headaches
- One or more of the following: a psychiatric disorder, schizophrenia, high or low histamine, alcoholism, learning and behavioral disorders, autism, or Down syndrome
If you check off 15 or more items, especially the more common ones, it’s highly probable that you have pyroluria and will benefit from taking zinc and vitamin B6 supplements. I encourage you to be tested, but if this isn’t possible, or even if you don’t have pyroluria, supplementing with zinc and vitamin B6 may be worthwhile if you have a large number of these symptoms.
This questionnaire is based on my experience working with many clients with pyroluria, along with information from Depression-Free Naturally (2001), by Joan Mathews-Larson, Nutrition and Mental Illness (1987), by Carl Pfeiffer, and Natural Healing for Schizophrenia and Other Common Mental Disorders (2001), by Eva Edelman.
This questionnaire is taken from chapter 7 of The Antianxiety Food Solution: How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood and End Cravings, now available in major books stores, at Amazon and via www.antianxietyfoodsolution.com.
| YOU’RE WELCOME TO INCLUDE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEBSITE AS LONG AS YOU INCLUDE THIS COMPLETE BLURB WITH IT:
Trudy Scott (CN), Certified Nutritionist is the founder of www.everywomanover29.com, a thriving nutrition practice with a focus on food, mood and women’s health. Trudy educates women about the amazing healing powers of food and nutrients and helps them find natural solutions for anxiety and other mood problems. Trudy’s goal for all her clients (and all women): ”You can be your healthiest, look your best and feel on-top-of-the-world emotionally!”
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Wow, Trudy. That’s a lot of info to digest. I think I’ll just start taking my vitamins.
Write on!~
Lisa
everywomanover29 Reply:
November 21st, 2011 at 9:58 am
Lisa
It’s quite amazing how zinc and B6 can make such a difference!
Trudy
Trudy,
You really know your stuff! After I have this baby I’m going to have to come see you. I don’t have any of these symptoms except for disliking being seated in a middle of a restaurant!
Kiyla Fenell
everywomanover29 Reply:
November 21st, 2011 at 9:59 am
Thanks Kiyla! and congrats on the baby!
Truly impressive information Trudy. Great how you made it easy for someone to identify if they suffer from pyroluria. Thanks Trudy!
Dr. Robert Fenell
everywomanover29 Reply:
November 21st, 2011 at 10:00 am
Thanks Dr Robert, so many people find this questionnaire so helpful
Wow! This is quite a comprehensive list. Thanks for publicizing a condition that makes people miserable and they don’t even realize what’s going on. Off to take my vitamins!
Sue
everywomanover29 Reply:
November 21st, 2011 at 10:01 am
Thanks Sue – around 40% of the general population have pyroluria so it’s useful to know if you’re one of them!
Yow! I must have attracted reading this post today because I can check off most of those symptoms. I, like Lisa, am on my way to the vitamin store! Thanks, Trudy! XO, Katherine
everywomanover29 Reply:
November 21st, 2011 at 10:03 am
Katherine
It does resonate with a lot of entrepreneurs who are big achievers and manage to push through their feelings of inner tension. And its amazing what a few nutrients can do to help in such a big way! Just make sure your zinc supplement doesn’t contain copper.
Trudy
Wow – Sue Painter put this link in her Tuesday Tips newsletter. Not only do I have symptoms, but my sister has even more! I forwarded the link to her. Thanks for sharing this!
everywomanover29 Reply:
December 1st, 2011 at 12:50 pm
Deb
Yes, Sue saw this and felt it was worth sharing with folks on her list. So glad you found it useful and were able to share it with your sister. If you score high, it’s always a good idea to have your sister/s and mom and daughter/s also do the questionnaire. And getting on zinc and vitamin B6 will make a world of difference.
Trudy
Trudy,
Wow! This is a lot to digest. ( oops, sorry about that! )
Usually I just clear up my maladies with my good friend Jack. This is quite a list to review, I will pass it on as there are a few people I know who might be helped by reading it.
Mitch
everywomanover29 Reply:
December 1st, 2011 at 12:46 pm
Thanks for sharing Mitch – glad you have a good doctor to work with….
I checked off 15 for sure! I never knew of pyroluria. I guess this is something that one-a-day vitamins won’t take care of alone, that you need a higher dosage?
everywomanover29 Reply:
December 1st, 2011 at 12:45 pm
Carmen
That’s correct one-a-day vitamins are maintenance doses at best and if you do have pyroluria (or many of the symptoms, as you have indicated), you will need individual vitamin B6 and zinc supplements
Trudy
Whoa! What a list. I had never heard of this condition before and appreciate you sharing your expertise. Fascinating! I’ve been taking vitamins for a while now (pre- and post-natal) and now I truly realize the importance of continuing! Thanks. You are so knowledgeable!
everywomanover29 Reply:
December 1st, 2011 at 9:45 am
You are very welcome Jenny!
I agree with the others — great symptom list.
However, it should be pointed out that several other nutrients are often critically essential when it comes to treating pyroluria — including manganese, niacinamide, magnesium, and sometimes evening primrose oil.
Zinc can deplete manganese, b6 can deplete magnesium, etc…..
More info available w/ a google search.
everywomanover29 Reply:
December 22nd, 2011 at 8:45 pm
Kelly
and future blog posts. I’m really only just getting started and can’t cover it all in one post, but appreciate you clarifying this.
Thanks for this and yes, you are absolutely correct. I find zinc, vitamin B6 and evening primrose oil to be key, with a good multi-vitamin (with manganese) and a multi-mineral and sometimes additional magnesium. Niacinamide is really good when low histamine is the issue – often seen with pyroluria. Also each person is unique so this needs to be considered too. And more info is also available in my book The Antianxiety Food Solution
Trudy
Trudy – very interested in your questionnaire. I am being tested next week for pyroluria as my holistic doctor says I have many symptoms of this – leaky gut, low zinc levels, anemic, damaged kidneys from Ig A proteins attacking them (gluten free to handle this) thyroid problems etc. Plus getting upset and angry without real reason. All good and makes a lot of sense this could be it. I have been gluten free for over a year which has made a huge difference but not resolved gut issues and sleep issues etc. Have been working for over 30 years as a fulltime exec and its taken its toll. I am 49yo.
My question is about my 26yo daughter – she is very pale, gets gut issues as well as sinusitis, and has incidents of very painful ovarian cysts to the point of doubling over and almost passing out, no appetite and chills/fevers. I see some of these symptoms on your checklist but not all. I want to get her tested too as it is genetic – have you found these other symptoms I mentioned are consistent with this same thing or should we be looking further. She is not gluten free but I am working on it, she is a high level exec working long hours but eats well and does some exercise. She is alcohol and drug free.
The really interesting thing on your questionnaire is about female likeness in families – the first reaction to people seeing us together is how alike we are – they always say this almost in surprise at the likeness!
Thanks – Sue
everywomanover29 Reply:
February 5th, 2012 at 4:05 pm
Sue
I’m really pleased the pyroluria questionnaire is helpful for you and I’m pleased your holistic doctor is testing you. You don’t mention anxiety for either of you – inner tension and anxiety is always seen with pyroluria. And yes, the female likeness in families in families is a very common finding.
If you do have pyroluria, please keep in mind that it is very likely just a part of the picture for you and your daughter – and yes, I suggest looking further. I’d consider an adrenal assessment and food intolerance testing for both of you – and possibly stool testing too. For you, anger and sleep issues could be related to low serotonin. For your daughter, when I hear ovarian cysts, I think PCOS, insulin resistance and sex hormone imbalances.
It’s great you are gluten-free and helping your daughter figure out if gluten is an issue for her too. All the best to both of you and try and work less hours if you can!
Trudy
Thanks Trudy and we went to see our holistic GP and told her our concerns for my daughter and she agreed with your comments above on tests needed so we are now organizing them to be done over the next 1-2 weeks. She is also having an IV Vitamin C, Vitamin B right now so that will also get her doing better while we sort the real cause of the problem. She is getting the pyroluria test as well.
Thanks again.
Sue
Thanks for this great info. I live in a rural area, and I’m having the worst time finding a practitioner near me, along the lines of what you do. I’ve searched holistic directors, etc. I’m willing to work with someone long-distance (online) if need be. I love your book, but I find that I really want and need someone to help walk me through it. When you’re dealing with possible pyroluria, all the attendant symptoms and issues, self-treatment is a major hurdle. Any advice? Thank you, thank you!
everywomanover29 Reply:
February 6th, 2012 at 10:49 am
Hi Kay
You’re welcome! So pleased to hear that you love my book – thank you! I do work with folks over the phone and would be happy to talk to you about my programs. You can find out more here http://www.everywomanover29.com/services.html The first step is the initial 15 minute complimentary phone consult. I’ll send you an email too…
Trudy