Porphyrins Profile - Urine
Porphyrin Testing: The Effects of Toxicity
The Porphyrins Profile can help identify the severity of heavy metal toxicity or organic chemical
exposure in patients. Chemical exposure and a heavy toxic burden can have physiological effects
resulting in impaired metabolism and cellular function.
Porphyrin testing also helps you monitor therapy in your patients.
Porphyrin testing helps identify:
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Levels of biochemical damage caused by toxicant exposure
Physiologic burden of a person's level of toxins
Levels of porphyrin elevation correlated with levels of toxic interference
Toxicity of patients before and during chelation therapy
Toxicity of therapeutic drugs
Why Evaluate Porphyrins?
Porphyrins are proteins involved in the formation of heme measured in urine. Heme is essential
for the proper function of many proteins including oxygen transport, energy production, and
detoxification. Proper porphyrin production is essential for our body's capacity to detoxify
toxins.
Porphyrins are particularly well suited for assessing heavy metal toxicity. First, the heme
pathway is a constantly-changing pathway that is active in almost every cell of the body. Any
disturbance in the pathway tends to cause rapid and relatively large accumulations of
intermediates, such as porphyrins. Second, the enzymes of the pathway are widely distributed in
human tissues, and are highly sensitive to the presence of various toxins, creating the large
accumulation of porphyrins in the pathway.
Porphyrins and Autism
Studies are demonstrating urinary porphyrin testing is successful in:
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Demonstrating the role of mercury in ASD populations
Identifing the physiologic burden of children and adults exposed to mercury
Tracking mercury excretion from affected children undergoing treatment
Symptoms of toxicity:
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Fatigue/weakness
Chemical sensitivity
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Irritability
Anxiety
Memory loss
Insomnia
Numbness and tingling in hands and feet
Tremors
Gastrointestinal issues
Loss of appetite
Sources of toxicants:
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Fish
Amalgams
Polluted air and soil
Fluorescent bulbs
Paints
Pottery
Ground water
Tobacco
Additional Profiles to Consider:
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Nutrient and Toxic Elements 6-8 Hr.
Nutrient and Toxic Elements 24 Hr.
Toxic Metals in Whole Blood
Organix SM Comprehensive Profile
IONSM Profile
TRIAD SM Profile
Test name(s)
0060 - Porphyrins Profile*
Description
The Porphyrins Profile evaluates the biomarkers of toxicity. Patterns of specific porphyrin
elevations in urine may serve as functional markers of toxicity from toxic metals, such as
mercury, lead, arsenic, or other organic chemicals. The Porphyrins Profile measures seven
porphyrins, total porphyrins, and two ratios to help you differentiate heavy metal toxicity, as well
as monitor therapy in your patient.
Method
UPLC/Florescence detection, Colorimetry
Turnaround Time
10 - 14 days, 10 days average
Analytes
Uroporphyrin I & III
Heptacarboxyporphyrin
Hexacarboxyporphyrin
Pentacarboxyporphyrin
Precoproporphyrin**
Coproporphyrin I
Coproporphyrin III
Total Porphyrins
Precopro/Uro I & III
Copro I/Copro III
Creatinine
*Not available in New York
**Atypical porphyrin consistent with precoprophyryrin reported in the literature.1,2
Precoproprophyrin is reported as a ratio of peak area to internal standard peak area in units of
response/g creatinine
1. J.S. Woods, M.A. Bowers, H.A. Davis, Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 110, 464-476
(1991).
2. D. Echeverilia et. al., Neurotoxicology and Teratology 28 (2006) 39-48.