Micronutrient therapy for pyrroluria: a retrospective analysis of patient acceptance

Abstract

Purpose: Pyrroluria is a proposed metabolic condition that remains controversial and insufficiently supported by empirical evidence within conventional medical practice and research. The present study evaluates patient acceptance of micronutrient therapy prescribed for pyrroluria in a clinical setting. The aim is not to validate the condition but to document patient experiences with a therapy commonly used in complementary practice. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted in the Department of Gynecology at the University Hospital of Bern in 2022/2023. The study included patients who tested positive for pyrroluria and received micronutrient therapy. The primary outcome was the overall acceptance of therapy, assessed using the validated ACCEPT© questionnaire. Results: The mean score for overall therapy acceptance was 74 ± 34 out of a maximum of 100 points, indicating a high level of acceptance. Micronutrient therapy was also well accepted in terms of side effects (85 ± 27), treatment constraints (71 ± 24), long-term use (85 ± 20), and therapy regimen (84 ± 21). The perceived efficacy of the therapy received a score of 63 ± 34, which did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.7). Conclusions: Micronutrient therapy was well tolerated and accepted by patients with pyrroluria, underscoring its potential as a low-risk adjunctive intervention. However, the perceived treatment efficacy was modest, and no conclusions about the biological validity of pyrroluria or the effectiveness of the therapy can be drawn. Rigorous, placebo-controlled trials are needed to evaluate the therapeutic value of micronutrients in this context. Furthermore, substantial scientific investigation is required to determine whether pyrroluria constitutes a valid clinical entity within conventional medicine.