Pyroluria

Pyroluria, high mauve, pyrrole disorder, malvaria, elevated kryptopyrroles and social anxiety

January 9, 2015 By Trudy Scott 104 Comments

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Low levels of the mineral zinc and vitamin B6 are frequently associated with a type of anxiety characterized by social anxiety, avoidance of crowds, a feeling of inner tension, and bouts of depression. People with this problem experience varying degrees of anxiety or fear, often starting in childhood, but they usually manage to cover it up and push through. They tend to build their life around one person, become more of a loner over time, have difficulty handling stress or change, and have heightened anxiety symptoms when under more stress.

This constellation of symptoms is often the result of a genetic condition called pyroluria, also known as high mauve, pyrrole disorder, pyrroluria, pyrolleuria, malvaria, and elevated kryptopyrroles.

In Nutrition and Mental Illness, wonderful book written by Carl Pfeiffer in 1987, pyroluria is described as faulty synthesis of heme (a component of hemoglobin, in the blood), resulting in elevated levels of kryptopyrroles (KP) or by-products of hemoglobin synthesis that have no known role in the body. To get quite technical, it turns out that what’s elevated is actually levels of another molecule: hydroxyhemopyrrolin-2-one (HPL). This molecule attaches to zinc and vitamin B6 in the body, which are then excreted in greater amounts than normal in the urine, resulting in deficiencies. Since the body makes 2 million red blood cells per second, you can see how deficiencies can rapidly develop.

Supplementing with zinc and vitamin B6 (and a few other key nutrients) improves the many signs and symptoms of pyroluria. HPL also inhibits synthesis of heme explaining why people with pyroluria often also have low levels of iron or ferritin (the body’s storage form of iron and the first indicator of decreased iron levels) and need to supplement with iron as well.

I cover this in great detail in my book The Antianxiety Food Solution. I devote a whole chapter to it and for simplicity I use the term “pyroluria” in the book, in my blog posts, articles and presentations.

I first learned of pyroluria when I worked with Julia Ross and discovered that I have it. Joan Mathews-Larson covers it in detail in her great book Depression-Free Naturally and I consider her to be a true expert on pyroluria.

It’s not well-recognized in the mental health and medical community. This is the most recent published information on the topic: Discerning the Mauve Factor, Part 1 and Discerning the Mauve Factor, Part 2.

If this sounds like you, here is a link to the Pyroluria Questionnaire from my book. I created this using the work of Carl Pfeiffer and Joan Mathews-Larson, modifying it based on feedback I received from my clients.

Many people are surprised to discover that they now have an answer to something that has plagued them their whole lives. This was certainly the case with me. Here are Madonna’s results, posted on the pyroluria blog post for the Anxiety Summit season 2: How zinc and vitamin B6 prevent pyroluria and social anxiety

I am 55 and have suffered with panic disorder since age 14. My anxiety has gotten so bad I can hardly leave the house at times. I am a woman of faith but had to even give up church, as I could not handle the people. It has been a rough road. I had already given up gluten and sugar. Somehow I stumbled on the word pyroluria. I did start zinc and b6. Also started primrose oil today. I can tell a difference in my mood and anxiety. I am ready to start living again.

I’d love to see your comments/questions if you can relate to any of this. Also, please do share in the comments if you know you have pyroluria and find the nutrients have eliminated your social anxiety and inner tension symptoms.

The Anxiety Summit: GABA, magnesium, pyroluria and digestive issues

June 19, 2014 By Trudy Scott 15 Comments

This is day 12 of the Anxiety Summit. Host of the Anxiety Summit, Trudy Scott, Food Mood Expert and Nutritionist, author of The Antianxiety Food Solution, interviews two clients who saw transfromational changes in their mood and anxiety when they made food changes, added in nutrients, addressed digestive issues and food intolerances.

Client success story: Carolyn Gard

GABA and magnesium helped her feel calmer, the amino acids have helped with her sugar cravings and she wishes she had known about pyroluria, introversion and social anxiety when she was at college

Here is a great gem from my interview with Carolyn. We were talking about GABA, the main calming neurotransmitter and amino acid. She said it:

makes me feel very calm and focused no matter what I’m doing. I feel like I’m on a real calm, peaceful cruise control.”

Client success story: Sophia Elizabeth Archambault

Sophia Elizabeth struggled with chronic sadness and an eating disorder, and now she has resilience, balance and lives happily on a farm with her husband, 3 dogs and 10 goats. She found solutions by addressing food sensitivities, pyroluria and digestive issues.

Here is a great gem from my interview with Sophia Elizabeth. We were talking about the value of keeping a food mood log:

And then you note with each meal or each beverage how you’re feeling, or the various things you notice in shifts of mood or sensations in the body. And it’s all there in black and white. It’s sort of like using your own body as research.”

Both Carolyn and Elizabeth did better with nutrients for pyroluria. Here is the pyroluria questionnaire we discussed.

~~If you are not already registered for the Anxiety Summit you can get live access to the speakers of the day here www.theAnxietySummit.com~~

UPDATE: the summit concluded on Tues 6/24 – season 2 of The Anxiety Summit will be in November 2014. If you’d like to be on the notification list just sign up here www.theAnxietySummit.com

Missed this interview or can’t listen live? Or want this and the other great interviews for your learning library? Purchase the MP3s or MP3s + transcripts + interview highlights and listen when it suits you

The Anxiety Summit: How zinc and vitamin B6 prevent pyroluria and social anxiety

June 15, 2014 By Trudy Scott 217 Comments

How zinc and vitamin B6 prevent pyroluria and social anxiety

– an interview with Trudy Scott, host of the Anxiety Summit (interviewer is Corey Schuler, who presents on Tuesday)

This interview was done on day 7 of The Anxiety Summit: Nutritional approaches for eliminating anxiety, social anxiety, panic attacks and OCD.

You can read/learn more about the summit in my opening talk/blog “Why the Anxiety Summit? Stats, trends and gems.”

Pyroluria/social anxiety

Low levels of the mineral zinc and vitamin B6 are frequently associated with a type of anxiety characterized by social anxiety, avoidance of crowds, a feeling of inner tension, and bouts of depression. People with this problem experience varying degrees of anxiety or fear, often starting in childhood, but they usually manage to cover it up. They tend to build their life around one person, become more of a loner over time, have difficulty handling stress or change, and have heightened anxiety symptoms when under more stress.

This constellation of symptoms is often the result of a genetic condition called pyroluria, also known as high mauve, pyrrole disorder, pyrroluria, pyrolleuria, malvaria, and elevated kryptopyrroles.

Here is the online version of the Pyroluria Questionnaire from The Antianixety Food Solution.

Be sure to read the comments for a wealth of information. You’ll see the dystonia question here.

If you need more information I have a whole chapter on pyroluria in my book:

The Antianxiety Food Solution: How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood and End Cravings (New Harbinger 2011).

The pyroluria chapter includes very detailed sections on the background, the questionnaire, testing and pyroluria supplement protocol.
It does not mention introversion, miscarriage and dystonia as these are new areas that I’m looking into

Here are other great books that also address pyroluria:

Joan Mathews Larson Depression Free Naturally

Carl Pfeiffer Nutrition and Mental Illness

Eva Edelman Natural Healing for Schizophrenia and Other Common Mental Disorders. As Corey said, this one is more for the practitioner.

The pyroluria-introversion connection

This is the blog post I wrote in response to the Huffington Post article, written by Carolyn Gregoire and called “23 Signs You’re Secretly An Introvert”

“Am I an anxious introvert because of low zinc and vitamin B6? My response to Huffington Post blog”

Be sure to check out the 23 signs and the responses from my wonderful followers.

I’d like to invite you to do both questionnaires and comment on the blog. Tell us that yes you are an introvert and yes you score over 15 on the pyroluria question or whatever the outcome is.

Pyroluria and fear of public speaking

Sontine is a client of mine who made diet changes, lifestyle changes like walking and added the key nutrients like zinc and vitamin B6 (and a few others) and found she too had no more fear of public speaking – and she actually started to really enjoy it! She also started to sleep well and had good energy. She was skeptical that this was possible for her but curiosity got the better of her and she’s so pleased with the results. Read more and watch her video testimonial here.

Do you have a fear of public speaking ? Did it improve when you addressed pyroluria? Please comment and let us know.

And here is the info about the zinc taste test and Kelly’s funny video! Enjoy

find that the majority of my clients with anxiety, pyroluria, depression and/or sugar and carb cravings are low in zinc. I have all my clients do the zinc status test when we start working together and then we retest their levels each week until they have good zinc levels. I use zinc sulfate, a liquid zinc that tastes a certain way depending on zinc levels. – See more at: https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/zinc-deficiency-and-using-the-zinc-taste-test/#sthash.0hriWmqc.dpuf

My interview on pyroluria airs on The Anxiety Summit on Sunday June 15th from 9am PDT (USA time) until 8:59am the next day. You can get access to this interview and all the interviews here www.theAnxietySummit.com – Enjoy!

~~UPDATE: the summit concluded on Tues 6/24 – season 2 of The Anxiety Summit will be in November 2014. If you’d like to be on the notification list just sign up here www.theAnxietySummit.com~~

Missed this interview or can’t listen live? Or want this and the other great interviews for your learning library? Purchase the MP3s or MP3s + transcripts and listen when it suits you.

You can find your purchasing options here: Anxiety Summit Season 1, Anxiety Summit Season 2, and Anxiety Summit Season 3.

You can pre-register for future seasons of The Anxiety Summit here: www.theAnxietySummit.com

The Antianxiety Food Solution on Annie Jennings’ JenningsWire

November 12, 2013 By Trudy Scott 12 Comments

I really enjoyed sharing a few of my top antianxiety food solution tips on the Annie Jennings’ JenningsWire podcast! It was short but sweet! We managed to cover real food, red meat, coffee!!, tryptophan and gluten in 10 minutes!

The Antianxiety Food Solution

How do you calm your anxious mind, improve your mood and end cravings with food?
Does red meat cause anxiety?
If you’re anxious do you really have to quit caffeine?
Everyone is talking about the gluten-free diet – what is the tie in to mood?
What is your favorite nutrient for eliminating anxiety, worry, negative self-talk, low self-esteem and afternoon/evening sugar cravings?
What are the key nutrients for addressing social anxiety?

You can go to the Annie Jennings’ JenningsWire podcast page to listen to the 10 minute audio interview.

We didn’t get to the last question: What are the key nutrients for addressing social anxiety? If you have the little-known condition called pyroluria (the main symptoms are inner tension and social anxiety) you may need to supplement with zinc and vitamin B6. These nutrients also happen to be co-factors for making brain chemicals like serotonin and the calming GABA. I am seeing an overlap between the traits anxious introverts resonate with and the pyroluria symptoms ! Imagine a nutritional solution for anxious introverts!

From Annie’s site: “This podcast is presented by Annie Jennings, of the National Publicity Firm, Annie Jennings PR and the creator of JenningsWire online magazine. JenningsWire is capturing the heart of America with its rich community of talented, insightful and relevant bloggers and podcasters!”

Thanks Annie and Stacey for the opportunity!

Quiet: introverts on the job – pyroluria, low blood sugar, gluten?

October 22, 2013 By Trudy Scott 13 Comments

In a recent blog post I discussed a possible connection between introversion and pyroluria, especially if you also have social anxiety, inner tension and a preference for interacting with a few people rather than a crowd.

This nice infographic gives us some of the useful facts and stats:

introverts make better one-on-one connections
introverts sometimes experience anxiety when speaking to large groups of people
introverts are prone to social anxiety disorder
the percentage of introverts in the U.S. is about 50%
the percentage of people in the U.S. who are estimated to have social anxiety disorder is 7%-8%
the percentage of adults in the U.S. who are estimated to have an anxiety disorder is 18% [I added this one]

I like that this infographic is suggesting more comfortable work environments and jobs that may suit introverts better.

BUT …and this is a BIG BUT….I feel we can do better if you are one of those introverts who still feel anxious or nervous despite all the tips and tricks.

It’s important for you to also address some of the possible biochemical and nutritional imbalances:

low blood sugar can make you feel anxious, irritable and depressed – eating protein at breakfast helps so much
pyroluria can cause social anxiety and inner tension, especially in crowds and when under more stress – zinc and vitamin B6 can make a world of difference
gluten intolerance can cause anxiety and depression and can lead to nutritional deficiencies – do an elimination and challenge
low GABA or low serotonin can lead to physical tension/anxiety and worry/anxiety in the head – consider a trial of GABA or tryptophan supplements

This is just a few factors that may be contributing to your anxiety. I encourage you to investigate and address ALL the possible causes of your anxiety and/or social anxiety. You don’t have to live with it, tolerate it and force or “extrovert” (a new verb!) yourself in social settings. You can feel comfortable, relaxed, calm and be a “Social Butterfly” – really!

Do also check out my book for in-depth protocols and research: The Antianxiety Food Solution: How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings (New Harbinger, 2011).

Source: BestMastersPrograms.org

Am I an anxious introvert because of low zinc and vitamin B6? My response to Huffington Post blog

September 16, 2013 By Trudy Scott 220 Comments

At the risk of making some introverts mad I’d like to propose a connection between pyroluria and introversion. Many of your introversion traits – anxiety-and-social-anxiety, feelings-of-inner-tension, not-enjoying-crowds – may in fact have a biochemical component.

There is a genetic condition that causes anxiety-and-social-anxiety, feelings-of-inner-tension, not-enjoying-crowds and it’s called pyroluria. If you have pyroluria and take zinc, vitamin B6, evening primrose oil and a few other nutrients you will feel calm, gain confidence and enjoy being around groups of people for the first time in your life. Perhaps the same can be said if you are an introvert and you feel uncomfortable in crowds and feel anxious!?

I’m writing this blog post because of a recent Huffington Post article, written by Carolyn Gregoire and called “23 Signs You’re Secretly An Introvert”

I am fascinated and intrigued with this article and the 23 questions because I used to resonate with being an introvert. However, since I discovered that I actually have an inherited and little-understood condition called pyroluria, I no longer resonate with being an introvert! I use zinc, vitamin B6 and evening primrose oil on a daily basis and it keeps my social anxiety/inner tension/inner monologue symptoms in check. And, it seems, my former introvert traits too!

I mention the “making some introverts mad” part because many introverts say “just leave us alone, we’re quite happy the way we are and don’t need to fixed or changed”.

But, based on the numerous comments on this very popular article– over 2500 in total as of 9/16/2013 – there are some aspects of being an introvert that many introverts would like to change.

Here are a few examples:

mr070995 is proud to be an introvert but wishes he was a little more outgoing:

“After reading this, and laughing at the fact that most of what is on this list is literally my life, I can definitely say I am an introvert. Am I sad by this, not at all! I am proud of what I am and what I’m becoming. Do I wish I was a little bit more outgoing in some aspects, of course”

junkmama2 is happy but not comfortable in a crowd:

“This is my life. It isn’t always a comfortable place to be when I must be in a crowd. But I am happy to be in my peaceful life, where calmness and quiet prevail”

HuffPoRepublican feels drained and anxious around people:

“I’m not sure what I am. I mean, I actually like to be around people at first, and I’m always up to hang out – but after the first five minutes, I feel drained and anxious to get home and return to my books. :)”

Darkace puts on a show in order to succeed in the work place:

“The hardest aspect of living life as in introvert is we all live in an extroverted world. School pushes kids to do group projects, that are just awkward and when you don’t do well in it you’re doing something wrong or something is wrong with you. The moment I step out of the door I am no longer me, I am a character that has to put on a show in order to succeed in the work place.”

BCereus fakes it when around friends and finds it painful:

“Sometimes I can communicate with friends well and sometimes I fake it really badly. I always wonder if people can see past my half smile and fake laugh. It’s painful to be honest. But there are times when I don’t mind so much.”

Here are the 23 questions in Carolyn’s article. I encourage to check them out on the blog as she goes into each one in more detail and has some great links for further reading on the topic.

1. You find small talk incredibly cumbersome.

2. You go to parties -– but not to meet people. You would rather spend time with people you already know and feel comfortable around.

3. You often feel alone in a crowd.

4. Networking/small-talk makes you feel like a phony.

5. You’ve been called “too intense.”

6. You’re easily distracted and overwhelmed in environments with an excess of stimulation.

7. Downtime doesn’t feel unproductive to you.

8. Giving a talk in front of 500 people is less stressful than having to mingle with those people afterwards.

9. When you get on the subway, you sit at the end of the bench -– not in the middle.

10. You start to shut down after you’ve been active for too long.It’s likely because you’re trying to conserve energy.

11. You’re in a relationship with an extrovert.

12. You’d rather be an expert at one thing than try to do everything.

13. You actively avoid any shows that might involve audience participation.

14. You screen all your calls — even from friends.

15. You notice details that others don’t.

16. You have a constantly running inner monologue.

17. You have low blood pressure.

18. You’ve been called an “old soul” -– since your 20s.

19. You don’t feel “high” from your surroundings

20. You look at the big picture.

21. You’ve been told to “come out of your shell.”

22. You’re a writer.

23. You alternate between phases of work and solitude, and periods of social activity.

I’d love to hear from you if you read Carolyn’s article and resonate with being an introvert and the 23 questions. Please comment below and tell me which of the introvert qualities you identify with? numbers are fine – so for example, just say #s 1, 4,5,6,7,8, 13-18, 20-23 = total of 18

Would you please also take a look at this pyroluria questionnaire from my book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” and let me know how you score? Again, which numbers and total score. I get that this may not apply to all introverts but I would love to know how prevalent this is.

If you are an introvert and struggle with crowds or networking, feel anxious and have the busy mind and inner monologue, you may possibly find some relief with the pyroluria protocol!