Are You Suffering from Histamine Intolerance?

Histamine intolerance occurs when there is a buildup of histamine in the body. Many foods contain high histamine levels, and various health conditions and medications can contribute to an intolerance (See below for a list of common symptoms).

Histamine is a chemical that sends messages to the brain, signals the release of stomach acid for digestion, and is released as part of the immune system's response to an injury or allergic reaction.

An intolerance to this chemical happens when the body cannot break down enough of it in the intestines, causing histamine levels in the blood to rise.

This typically results from having low levels of an enzyme called diamine oxidase (DAO), which is the primary agent that breaks down digested histamine.

When histamine levels get too high or when it can't be broken down properly, it can adversely impact normal bodily functions.

Symptoms of histamine intolerance

• headaches or migraines

• nasal congestion or sinus issues

• fatigue

• hives

• digestive issues

• irregular menstrual cycle

• nausea

• vomiting

Additional symptoms may include:

• abdominal cramping

• tissue swelling

• high blood pressure

• irregular heart rate

• anxiety

• difficulty regulating body temperature

• dizziness

What causes high histamine levels?

The enzyme diamine oxidase (DAO) is responsible for breaking down histamine that you take in from foods.

If you develop a DAO deficiency and are unable to break down histamine, you could develop an intolerance.

Some individuals have altered DAO production due to a number of different factors including:

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO): some gut microbes produce high amounts of histamines as a byproduct of their metabolism. Leaky Gut Syndrome: Intestinal permeability creates major inflammatory stress in the body which can contribute to poor DAO function. GI inflammatory conditions: Crohn's, Inflammatory bowel disease (IBS), colitis Celiac disease and those with gluten intolerance Certain drugs: NSAIDs, acid-blocking medications, anti-depressants, immune suppressants.

Nutritional Factors to Consider:

The DAO enzyme is dependent on vitamin B6, B12, iron, copper and vitamin C, so it makes sense to increase the intake of these compounds.

Copper and Vit C are crucial components of the DAO enzyme and B6 is a key cofactor that enables DAO to degrade histamine.

Copper deficiency is another possible cause for low DAO activity, as copper is a central atom of the DAO and thus essential for its function.

Controlling histamine levels with diet

Foods to avoid or at least limit.

Histamine-rich foods are:

alcohol and other fermented beverages fermented foods and dairy products, such as yogurt and sauerkraut dried fruits avocados eggplant spinach processed or smoked meats shellfish aged cheese

There are also a number of foods that trigger histamine release in the body, such as:

alcohol bananas tomatoes wheat germ beans papaya chocolate citrus fruits nuts, specifically walnuts, cashews and peanuts food dyes and other additives

Foods to eat

If you have a histamine intolerance, the following low-histamine foods can help reduce symptoms.

Some foods low in histamine include:

fresh meat and freshly caught fish non-citrus fruits eggs gluten-free grains, such as quinoa and rice dairy substitutes, such as coconut milk and almond milk fresh vegetables except tomatoes, avocados, spinach, and eggplant cooking oils, such as olive oil

Diagnosing Histamine Intolerance

Your doctor might also take a blood sample to analyze if you have a DAO deficiency.

G-DAP from https://precisionpointdiagnostics.com is a good test to check your DAO and Histamine levels

Supplement Recommendation to Block Histamine and Replenish DAO

Histamine Block from Seeking Health

Additional Recommendations

Replenish the supplements necessary for the production of DAO: B6, B12, iron, copper and vitamin C.

References:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7463562/

If you suspect histamine intolerance may be affecting your health, identifying the underlying cause is essential. Histamine intolerance is often linked to gut dysfunction (and there is a home test), nutrient deficiencies, or imbalances in the microbiome. Addressing these root causes can help improve symptoms and restore balance in the body. At our functional medicine clinic in Columbus, we focus on identifying and correcting the underlying factors that contribute to chronic symptoms such as histamine intolerance. If you are interested in working with our Functional Medicine Doctor, please call 614-839-1044 and schedule your appointment at Pure Health.

Thank you to Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., DACBN, MS, CFMP for providing this informational article. Go to http://www.functionalmedicinedoctors.com/ to find more information about functional medicine.