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haemoglobin, a crucial set of haem proteins is the _ there are eight metabolic steps in the body's conversion Cytochrome P450 enzymes. These enzymes either are — of porphyrin compounds into haem. Half of the eight deficient or are malfunctioning in the (hidden) porphyria disorders cause complaints that include porphyria sufferer. These crucial enzymes are mostly in neurological (or "mental"), gastrointestinal or muscular the liver, but also occur in the gastrointestinal tract, | symptoms. The other half of the porphyrias cause skin kidneys, brain, adrenals, sex organs, blood vessels and disease. People getting skin complaints from such skin. The cytochrome P450 enzymes metabolise many _ things as drug reactions or Sun exposure may have one compounds, and act to detoxify many foreign of the skin porphyrias. compounds that get into the body. These compounds include caffeine, alcohol, toxic environmental Famous Porphyria Sufferers—Who Didn't Know... chemicals, drugs and food components. But the Some very famous people are believed by medical cytochrome P450 enzymes also metabolise our own detectives to have suffered from porphyria.* You may hormones, and may be the cause of some adrenal or have seen the movie The Madness of King George (1994), thyroid diseases. They also metabolise some vitamins. which depicted Britain's King George III suffering Curiously, the cytochrome P450 enzymes got their —_ neurological and behavioural complaints. The movie's name from the observation that these protein molecules ending noted that it is now thought that he had react to 450-nanometre- wavelength light, which is in the porphyria. George's great-great-great-grandson, Prince blue-indigo part of the visible spectrum. Such light can William of Gloucester, was diagnosed with Variegate pass through most glass Porphyria in 1968 at the age ol windows, and may induce or wenty-seven. Both this Prince activate the cytochrome P450 . . William and George III were enzymes and sicken those with the hidden porphyric descendants of Mary, Queen o} underlying porphyria, causing often does not ever Scots, who is also now though some to need to block off all | | o have had porphyria. It may light from entering their abode. comp ete y recover after account for the so-called roya Note that in the movie Taxi Driver some exposures—including blue-b ood claim, as blood, (1976), the Robert De Niro urine or stool may show character is depicted as needing to heavy metals, pesticides, different colours when a sufferer to block his windows of all light moulds and other toxins. as a severe attack, especially i during the day, and to go out ° heir sample is left in the Sun and work only at night—while he or a while (this is usually no is progressively becoming more he case). mentally unbalanced. I have hypothesised that Adolf Hitler may have had Another haem enzyme metabolises tryptophan, and porphyria. If you smoked near him, it made him sick hus some hidden porphyrics—and asthmatics—are and could cost the smoker his life. He also had intolerant of high-tryptophan foods (turkey, chicken, | abdominal pain—a supposed hallmark of porphyria. pumpkin seeds) or supplements. Nerve cells also need Curiously, his physicians are known to have given him aem to work properly. Thus porphyria may be — glucose injections, which was once the only officia responsible for some cases of Alzheimer's’ or reatment for porphyria. I needn't comment on his Parkinson's disease—both of which are known to havea —_— mental aberrations. connection to environmental toxins. In the USA, abou Perhaps the archetypal porphyria sufferer was Vincen 50 per cent of people making it to their mid-eighties | van Gogh. Many now believe that his complaints arose ave some form of Alzheimer's. rom the following scenario. Van Gogh would paint and In both multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) and hen get very sick. His complaints included stomach porphyria, it is known that the smallest amounts o and digestion problems, anxiety, hallucinations, chemicals can trigger severe illness. In classica confusion, aggression and insomnia. Family members porphyria, the worst possibility is such severe — suffered from epilepsy, depression, kidney failure and neurological disorganisation that respiratory collapse — suicide. When van Gogh felt ill after painting, he sough can result. This is rare, fortunately, and is most likely to to ameliorate his complaints by basically stupefying result from a drug reaction. So, again, unnecessary use _ himself with an alcoholic beverage containing absinthe of drugs may need to be halted. Many skin or (a form of wormwood). However, it is now known tha behavioural reactions to drugs may actually be both the alcohol and absinthe themselves cause or porphyric reactions. Extreme, violent reactions (murder, | worsen a porphyria attack. Indeed, after drinking the suicide) to some anti-depressant drugs may be _ alcohol/absinthe, van Gogh was often deranged. He cu porphyria reactions, as such classes of drugs are known __ off part of his ear on one occasion and gave it to a to be severe inducers of porphyria. prostitute. He later killed himself, as did one of his The eight different porphyria syndromes arise because brothers. But before he committed suicide, he was there are eight metabolic steps in the body's conversion of porphyrin compounds into haem. Half of the eight porphyria disorders cause complaints that include neurological (or "mental"), gastrointestinal or muscular symptoms. The other half of the porphyrias cause skin disease. People getting skin complaints from such things as drug reactions or Sun exposure may have one of the skin porphyrias. some exposures—including to heavy metals, pesticides, moulds and other toxins. 32 * NEXUS ..the hidden porphyric often does not ever completely recover after DECEMBER 2010 - JANUARY 2011 www.nexusmagazine.com