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Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners
What is porphyria?
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Chris Fonda
Dietitian, Nutritionist, Sports Dietitian
As an Accredited Sports Dietitian, APD and athlete (springboard diver), Chris has both professional and personal experience in sport at the sub-elite and elite level.Chris … View Profile
A rare disorder which I came across with a colleague at work having this condition, so I decided to do some research into it. Basically porphyria is a cluster of different disorders (of the porphyrin rings) in which the body lacks the enzyme that converts porphyrins into heme (a normal and important process in the body). Heme contains iron which is used by many tissues in the body. This causes abnormal levels of porphyrins to build up in the body which can have side effects such as:
- abdominal pain
- light sensitivity
- muscle pain, weakness, paralysis
- nervous system problemsÂ
- vitamin and mineral deficiencies and more…
Some episodes can be life threatening therefore you MUST consult your doctor ASAP who will be able to perform tests for a proper diagnosis, and formulate a treatment plan. I am still new to this area, so this is my interpretation from what I have read so far.Report this post
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- abdominal pain
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