Your child may be losing the very nutrients their brain needs to function at its best, and when that happens, it can show up as exacerbated ADHD symptoms.
In this episode of the Soaring Child podcast, Dana Kay uncovers one of the most overlooked underlying stressors of persistent ADHD symptoms, a condition where key nutrients like zinc and vitamin B6 are literally being depleted before the body can use them.
Continuing the functional lab testing series, Dana breaks down the Kryptopyrrole (Pyroluria) test in a way that finally makes sense. She explains how this hidden imbalance can impact mood, emotional regulation, stress tolerance, focus, and even behavior, and why so many families never hear about it through traditional channels.
You'll learn how this condition creates a cycle of nutrient loss and symptom flare-ups, the common signs to look for, and why even the best diet or supplement routine may not work if this piece is missing.
LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW
KEY TAKEAWAYS
[00:00] Why kids can still struggle even with the "right" diet and supplements
[01:10] Introducing the Cryptopyrrole (Pyroluria) test
[02:05] How the body can lose nutrients faster than it uses them
[03:20] What HPL is and how it binds to zinc and B6
[05:10] Why zinc and B6 are critical for ADHD symptoms
[07:00] The two main drivers: genetics and oxidative stress
[09:10] The cycle of stress, inflammation, and nutrient depletion
[11:20] Why this test is rarely run but highly relevant for ADHD
[13:00] The surprising prevalence of elevated pyroles in ADHD kids
[15:10] Common signs parents may notice at home
[18:00] Why testing is essential before supplementing
[20:15] How treatment is personalized and not one-size-fits-all
[22:10] Timeline for seeing improvements after addressing pyroles
[24:00] Why this is one piece of a bigger root-cause puzzle
[26:30] How functional testing builds a complete picture over time
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
"What if your child is taking the right supplements… and still struggling because their body is literally dumping the nutrients they need?"
"What if their body is not holding on to those nutrients in the first place?"
"This compound comes along and hijacks them… and pulls them out of circulation."
"Now those nutrients… they're gone."
"Zinc and B6 are so critical for mood, emotional regulation, and focus."
"You have more nutrient loss, more symptoms, and more stress on the body."
"In the general population it's about 3%, but in my ADHD clients it's closer to 40%."
"This is not rare in the ADHD world… it's just rarely tested."
"When I heard this list, it was like a light bulb went off."
"I do not want you guessing. I want data."
"Sometimes addressing pyroles alone can create massive shifts."
"It's not the only piece… but it can be a really important one."
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