Pyroluria: Fact or Fiction?

Abstract

Objective: The term "Mauve factor"(pyrroluria) dates back to 1958 when Dr. Abram Hoffer defined the condition as elevated levels of pyrroles in the urine, currently called hydroxyhemepyrrolin-2-one (HPL). It was suggested that the raised pyrrole levels lead to depletions in zinc and vitamin B6, which, in turn, were hypothesized to result in a range of psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, anxiety, and depression. Treatment implications are supplementation with zinc and B6. This article aimed to review the scientific literature associating pyrroluria with psychiatric symptoms, explore the validity of HPL testing, explore the role of nutrients as treatment options for pyrroluria, and d..