Pyrroles (Kryptopyrrole)
Before we explain what Pyrroles in urine test is used for, please read the following important announcement.
Bio Balance Health bought the Pyrroles in urine test into Australia in 2004.
We have continued to improve this test through research and clinical observation.
Please note this disclaimer:
The only accurate information regarding Pyrroles, including research projects, is found on these pages and the AAL website.
WHY? We have done the work of identifying the molecules involved,
and providing a separate measure for pyrroles and urobilinogen.
Brett Lambert, Principal Scientist at AAL has conducted the molecular research to validate this test.
BBH advises that AAL is the only laboratory which provides an accurate test
https://www.apanlabs.com/urinary-pyrrole-test/.
Incorrect collection and specific gravity standardisation protocols used at other laboratories destroys most of the pyrroles component, leaving mostly Urobilinogen (a gut by-product). It is the responsibility of the health practitioner to ensure they base their treatment plan on accurate testing. Bio Balance Health receives no financial benefit from AAL.
Published Research – February 2023:
Pyrroles as a Potential Biomarker for Oxidative Stress Disorders
by Brett Lambert, Annalese Semmler, Cristina Beer and Joanne Voisey
https://bit.ly/IJMS-PyrrolesOxidativeStressBiomarker
Pyrroles are measurable in urine when old red blood cells are damaged from too much oxidative stress. To reduce pyrroles it is essential to manage the cause of the oxidative stress.
High or elevated urinary pyrroles measure
Pyrroles in urine is an unstable waste by-product of unmanaged oxidative stress, and is successfully measured in urine when collected in a sample pot with a preservative, at the moment the urine leaves the body. Foil is used to protect the sample from light, and is then frozen immediately at -27° C to protect from heat. It remains frozen during storage and transportation until defrosted for testing.
Collected and processed correctly, this test is reliable, as demonstrated through inhouse testing at AAL and NATA Accreditation process. This material is commercial in confidence and unlikely to be published.
Brett Lambert, Owner and Principal Scientist at Applied Analytical Laboratories (AAL) set the standard for collection in 2003. Brett isolated pyrroles in 2018 and 2020, enabling world first examination of the molecules and where they arise in the body. https://www.apanlabs.com/.
We can now say, with certainty, that conducted correctly, as only AAL do, there are many pieces of information available from this one test which cross-reference with other essential tests for mental health management.
In summary, urinary pyrroles are:
In excess:
- An end state biomarker of oxidative stress, irrespective of cause of the oxidation
- A measure of severity of unmanaged stress
- A measure of response to treatment to quench the oxidative stress, irrespective of method
- Pyrroles can accumulate if electrons are not available to quench reactive oxygen species (ROS)
- Depression is the most common mental health symptom association.
In absence:
- Lack of pyrroles, in combination with lack of histamine, can indicate folate issues and may be prone to mania symptoms.
Urobilinogen, a resolved co-measure, is:
- A measure of bile flow into the gut
- An indicator of blockage, if low or no measure
- An indicator of kidney disorder, if in excess
- An indicator of status of the fight or flight response
- Related to copper levels, as lack of bile prevents excess copper excretion.
- Anxiety is the most common mental health symptom associated with lack of bile.
Co-Measures
AAL Urinary Pyrroles test provides other co-measures which may indicate co-morbidities or other causes of mental health symptoms, eg UTI
Pyrrole, Kryptopyrrole, Pyrrole Disorder, Pyrrole Condition, Pyrroluria, Kryptopyrole, Pyroluria, Pyrrole Syndrome.
Urinary pyrroles are not:
- Kryptopyrrole. The human body cannot manufacture Kryptopyrroles (KP). KP is used as a standard against which testing reliability is measured and is purchased to be titrated into the testing process. It therefore cannot be what is measured.
- “Pyrroluria” or any other form of diagnosis.
- HPL. This is a stable product very close to the molecular structure of pyrroles used as an easy identifier of Pyrroles in the testing results.
Urinary pyrroles are :
- A fragmentation, or breakdown, of regulatory haem (part of red blood cells). Pyrroles are part of the circulatory system.
- Can accumulate. If excess ROS is unquenched, Pyrroles can accumulate, indicating oxidative stress is at damaging levels. The regulators demand the laboratory provide urgent notification to the patients’ health practitioner to take action when pyrroles are above 400.
Inaccuracies arose from original work in the 1980’s where the equipment had a fraction of the power of modern equipment. Incorrect assumptions were made, including that pyrroles stripped B6 and Zinc. B6 supplementation should only occur based on serum blood B6 testing, to minimise the risk of B6 toxicity, including peripheral neuropathy.
Bio Balance Health brought this test to Australia in 2003 and Brett Lambert, M.App.Sc, immediately developed the reliable collection, storage, transport and testing process. BBH has no financial connection with AAL, nor do any of their office holders. BBH has supported Brett’s research with various tier one universities to ensure this test was validated, as it was new to Australia. Thanks to Brett, we now understand the biochemical processes triggering and maintaining mental health symptoms.
Urinary Pyrroles and mental health symptoms
You will note we now rarely use any naming/labelling for mental health presentations. The biochemistry changes are universal. It is the severity, duration, intensity and genetic makeup, plus lifestyle, which affect the presentation of each individual’s problems. Hence, there are no “symptoms” of pyrroles/”pyrroluria”.
Finding the causes of the oxidative stress, and managing the biochemistry provides the journey to recovery. Objective testing also provides a tool available to all care workers to understand patient’s core changes, and their roles in managing their repair.
Urinary Pyrroles and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)
ROS are a by-product of metabolism which require an electron to quench. A common ROS is hydrogen peroxide H2O2. The most available electron givers for ROS are Iron and Vitamin C. Full iron studies testing is essential for the understanding of oxidative stress.
The relationship between iron levels and severity of mental health symptoms associated with high levels of oxidative stress is a new exploration. The association with CRP and catalase and iron is very strong, which is why CRP is included in the testing. The relationship between iron and CRP in the measure of inflammation, therefore should include iron testing. Whole blood histamine is a non-iron related indicator of inflammation, so should be co-measured.
Urinary Pyrrole Reference ranges
The references ranges used in America and overseas and by other laboratories, are based on a measure which is mostly urobilinogen. Urobilinogen is part of the gut and urobilinogen levels cycle during the day. Pyrroles are part of the circulatory system and can accumulate if ROS is unquenched. Measures of 2000 have been seen. Well above 550 is not uncommon. Normal is below 40. AAL Urinary Pyrroles test results are the only reliable use of the correct reference ranges as determined with Australian Regulatory Authorities.
Pyrroles and Social Media
There are many social media sites stating they are experts on “pyrroluria”, Kryptopyrroles, etc. There are many lecturers and practitioners who say they are “pyrrole experts”, yet quote outdated material. BBH stand by our statement that, currently, this test should only be conducted at AAL in Queensland, Australia. Our focus is on reliable pathology for mental health symptoms.
Any test which does not distinguish pyrroles and urobilinogen in the DMAB testing process, are providing unreliable information which may harm the patient. Any process which collects incorrectly, or measures specific gravity incorrectly, are providing unreliable information which may harm the patient. Any testing which says they are measuring kryptopyrrole or providing a diagnosis are also doing harm as they do not understand the measure. Any statement that B6 and Zinc are stripped out by Pyrroles is incorrect, as when the pyrrole molecule was isolated by Brett Lambert, it was apparent there is no mechanistic Zinc and B6 can attach to the pyrroles molecule.
Make a difference: Donate to research
If you wish to support further understanding of High Urinary Pyrroles and therefore ensure it becomes recognised by the broader medical world then please hit the donate button on this site and we will direct funds to assist the current research. If you or your family have been assisted by the understanding of how urinary pyrrole levels affect your health, then please make life better for others by supporting this research. A receipt for tax deduction will be issued with your donation. When researching biochemistry it is amazing how much can be achieved with very little money, so anything you donate will help. https://www.biobalance.org.au/make-a-donation
Bio Balance Health recommends you use a doctor trained by them who have experience in managing the process. Self-diagnosis and self-medication is fraught with difficulties and will not achieve optimal results.
Subscribe to view the Science of Pyrroles in Urine online lecture here: https://www.biobalance.org.au/pyrrole-lecture/
Further information
Go to the AAL website https://www.apanlabs.com/ to learn more complex details about pyrroles and urobilinogen. Here you will find the collection process and collection centres near you.
Click here to find a BBH trained practitioner.
Subscribe to view the Science of Pyrroles in Urine online lecture here: https://www.biobalance.org.au/pyrrole-lecture/
Note: Not all mental health symptoms are associated with oxidative stress as indicated with a high urinary pyrroles measure. Hence why it is important to complete the core set of pathology testing. Patients with high urinary pyrroles find managing the oxidative stress levels offers great help.
References
The following are references from Australian Research which has advanced understanding of measuring urinary pyrrole. Applied Analytical Laboratories data has been used and/or they have actively participated in the studies published in 1,2,3,6 & 7 below and are currently involved in ongoing research. There is research which will remain unpublished as it is commercial in confidence.
- Biomark Res. 2015 Feb 6;3:3. doi: 10.1186/s40364-015-0028-1. eCollection 2015.
Biomarkers of a five-domain translational substrate for schizophrenia and schizoaffective psychosis. Fryar-Williams S1, Strobel JE. - Biomark Res. 2016 Nov 9;7:172. eCollection 2016.
Fundamental Role of Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase 677 C → T Genotype and Flavin Compounds in Biochemical Phenotypes for Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Psychosis. Fryar-Williams S. - Front Psychiatry. 2016 Apr 14;7:48. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2016.00048. eCollection 2016.
Biomarker Case-Detection and Prediction with Potential for Functional Psychosis Screening: Development and Validation of a Model Related to Biochemistry, Sensory Neural Timing and End Organ Performance. Fryar-Williams S1, Strobel JE. - Clinical Psychological Science, 2016. Vol. 4(1), 144-162,
Nutritional interventions in clinical depression. Rechenberg, K. (2015) - Psychiatr. Pol 2014; 48(1): 75-88,
Does the usual dietary intake of patients with depression require vitamin mineral supplementation?
Stefańska E, Wendołowicz A, Kowzan U, Konarzewska B, Szulc A, Ostrowska L. - ACNEM Journal, Vol 29 No.3, 2010
“The Effectiveness of Targeted Nutrient Therapy In Treatment of Mental Illness – A Pilot Study”; Richard Stuckey, William Walsh, Brett Lambert. - Journal of Child & Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 2017 Nov; 27(9): 823-832;
Micronutrient Therapy for Violent and Aggressive Male Youth: An Open Label Trial; Hambly, J., Francis, K., Khan, S., Gibbons, K., Walsh, W., Lambert, B., Testa, C., & Haywood, A., doi: 10.1089/cap.2016.0199. Epub 2017 May 8. -
https://bit.ly/IJMS-PyrrolesOxidativeStressBiomarker
Pyrroles as a Potential Biomarker for Oxidative Stress Disorders
by Brett Lambert, Annalese Semmler, Cristina Beer and Joanne Voisey - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37894974/
Molecular Mechanisms Provide a Landscape for Biomarker Selection for Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Psychosis
Stephanie Fryar-Williams, Jorg Strobel, Peter Clements - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37958826/
Molecular Mechanism Biomarkers Predict Diagnosis in Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Psychosis, with Implications for Treatment
Stephanie Fryar-Williams, Graeme Tucker, Jorg Strobel, Yichao Huang, Peter Clements