Test Overview of Urinary Porphyrin Profile

Urinary porphyrins are an indicator of heavy metal toxicity.

Test Indications of Urinary Porphyrin Profile

  • Suspected metal toxicity.
  • Autism.

Labs Performing Urinary Porphyrin Profile Test

Name of LabLab CodeEstimated CostProcessing TimeComments
Go to Great PlainsGreat Plains  $109 Cash discount and some insurance

Costs cited are subject to change and may be reduced by insurance or cash discounts and increased by sample collection fees.

Theory of Urinary Porphyrin Profile

High levels of porphyrins may be caused by genetics, numerous environmental chemicals, drugs, diseases, and alcohol [GP2008], [Doss2000], [Elder1972].

Younger children, in general, have much higher porphyrin values than older children [Shaw2008].

A small percentage (2.8 %) of patients on the autistic spectrum screened by The Great Plains Laboratory showed abnormal porphyrin results. The Go to chelation challenge testchelation challenge test is probably a more effective way to screen for heavy metal toxicity [Shaw2008].

Uroporphyrins (UP)

  • High levels have been associated with As and Pb exposure [GP2008], [Fowler1978]
  • High levels have been associated with Porphyria cutanea tarda [GP2008], [Doss2000]
  • High levels are associated with acute intermittent porphyria and porphyria variegate [GP2008], [Doss2000], [Elder1972]

Heptacarboxyporphyrin (7-CP)

  • High levels have been associated with Porphyria cutanea tarda [GP2008], [Doss2000]

Hexacarboxyporphyrin (6-CP)

Pentacarboxyporphyrin (5-CP)

Precoproporphyrin (PreCP)

  • High levels have been found in Autistic children [GP2008], [Nataf2006]
  • High levels have been associated with Hg exposure [GP2008], [Woods1991], [Woods1993], [Woods1996]
  • According to Go to Doctor's DataDoctor's Data, "precoproporphyrin ... elutes after pentacarboxyporphyrin and before coproporphyrins I. [It] has yet to be characterized ... [but] appears to be elevated in Hg-exposed individuals."

Coproporphyrins I, III (CP)

Creatinine

Used to standardize concentration of sample.

Precoproporphyrins

  • Not included in Great Plains Laboratory test results, these are thought to be spurious [Shaw2008].

References regarding Urinary Porphyrin Profile

  • [Doss2000] Doss MO, Kuhnel A, Gross U. Alcohol and porphyrin metabolism. Alcohol Alcohol. 2000 Mar-Apr;35(2):109-25. PMID: 10787385PMID: 10787385
  • [Elder1972] Elder GH, Gray CH, Nicholson DC. The porphyrias: a review. J Clin Pathol. 1972 Dec;25(12):1013-33. PMID: 4570617PMID: 4570617
  • [FMU] Functional Medicine University. Lecture Notes. Full text: Full text: https://www.functionalmedicine.net/cmd.php?af=885901 https://www.functionalmedicine.net/cmd.php?af=885901
    [Sponsored Advertisement] I have taken this program and I highly recommend it to all health-care providers - Orville R. Weyrich, Jr PhD NMD.
  • [Fowler1978] Fowler BA, Mahaffey KR. Interactions among lead, cadmium, and arsenic in relation to porphyrin excretion patterns. Environ Health Perspect. 1978 Aug;25:87-90. PMID: 720307PMID: 720307
  • [GP2008] Great Plains Laboratory, William Shaw, Lori Knowles, Kurt Woeller. Physician Practitioner Training (Autism) Lecture Notes and Documentation. Tempe, AZ (8/23/2008 - 8/24/2008). Full text: Full text: https://www.greatplainslaboratory.com https://www.greatplainslaboratory.com
  • [Nasiadek2001] Nasiadek M, Chmielnicka J, Subdys J. Analysis of urinary porphyrins in rats exposed to aluminum and iron. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2001 Jan;48(1):11-7. PMID: 11161672PMID: 11161672
  • [Nataf2006] Nataf R, Skorupka C, Amet L, Lam A, Springbett A, Lathe R. Porphyrinuria in childhood autistic disorder: implications for environmental toxicity. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2006 Jul 15;214(2):99-108. PMID: 16782144PMID: 16782144
  • [Shaw2008] William Shaw. Biological Treatments for Autism & PDD, Third Edition. Sunflower Pub (2008). Go to Amazon Amazon
  • [Woods1991] Authors. Woods JS, Bowers MA, Davis HA. Urinary porphyrin profiles as biomarkers of trace metal exposure and toxicity: studies on urinary porphyrin excretion patterns in rats during prolonged exposure to methyl mercury. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 1991 Sep 15;110(3):464-76. PMID: 1949014PMID: 1949014
  • [Woods1993] Woods JS, Martin MD, Naleway CA, Echeverria D. Urinary porphyrin profiles as a biomarker of mercury exposure: studies on dentists with occupational exposure to mercury vapor. J Toxicol Environ Health. 1993 Oct-Nov;40(2-3):235-46. PMID: 8230299PMID: 8230299
  • [Woods1996] Woods JS. Altered porphyrin metabolism as a biomarker of mercury exposure and toxicity. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 1996 Feb;74(2):210-5. PMID: 8723034PMID: 8723034

    • Unless specifically noted above, references used in the construction of this web page include the following:

    [FMU] Lecture notes from Functional Medicine University.

    [SCNM] Lecture notes from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine.

    [UT] Lecture notes from the University of Tennessee graduate programs in Chemistry, Microbiology, and Biochemistry.