health centersallergies center

How Do I Know If I Have Histamine Intolerance?

Disease and Condition: Hay Fever
histamine intolerance
The symptoms of histamine intolerance often resemble seasonal or food allergies, which means proper diagnosis requires an evaluation from a doctor.

Histamine intolerance may be difficult to diagnose because it can resemble seasonal or food allergies, which presents with the following signs and symptoms:

Histamine intolerance could also manifest through flu-like or even food poisoning symptoms, such as heartburn, nausea, or hot flashes.

Histamine intolerance is a complicated condition that can be confused with a variety of other conditions, so it is critical to understand the exact cause to implement proper treatment strategies. Seek professional help to diagnose and treat the condition, and do not guess or attempt to treat yourself.

Diagnosing a histamine intolerance

If you have histamine intolerance, you may have these symptoms regularly or after eating certain foods. Because this intolerance can cause a variety of allergic reactions, a diagnosis based solely on symptoms is impossible.

  • Usually, diagnosis of histamine intolerance is made through a process of ruling out other possible health conditions.
  • A doctor would first test for allergies and possible food intolerances.
  • If the test does not reveal a specific allergy or sensitivity, the doctor can begin testing for histamine intolerance.
  • Because histamine intolerance is caused by a lack of specific enzymes in the body that metabolize histamine (diamine oxidase), the doctor can measure diamine oxidase and histamine levels before and after a low-histamine diet.

Two enzymes responsible for histamine breakdown

  1. Diamine oxidase enzyme: Breaks down external histamine in the gut (histamine release from food). It is primarily produced in the small intestine, ascending colon, placenta, and kidneys.
  2. Histamine N-methyltransferase enzyme: Breaks down histamine levels produced internally in the intracellular space (in between the cells). It is found primarily in the kidneys, liver, spleen, colon, spinal cord, prostate, ovary, and bronchi.

Impairment in the diamine oxidase enzyme appears to be a more significant contributor to histamine intolerance than impairment in the histamine N-methyltransferase enzyme.

How common is histamine intolerance?

Histamine intolerance affects approximately three percent of the population, with women over the age of 40 constituting approximately 80 percent of those affected.

There is no single diagnostic tool that can confirm a diagnosis, but an elimination diet is a simplest and most convenient way to find out if you have such an intolerance.

What is histamine intolerance?

Most people can tolerate the amount of histamine found in food because their bodies produce enough diamine oxidase. These enzymes break down and eliminate the compound quickly.

People suffering from histamine intolerance are likely to have low levels of histamine-clearing enzymes, allowing histamine levels to build up in their blood plasma and disrupt bodily functions. So, the problem arises when the body cannot get rid of the histamine.

While histamine intolerance is not a true food intolerance and thus is not usually considered life-threatening, the symptoms can be quite severe, leading many people to the emergency room.

Some of the factors that may contribute to the development of histamine intolerance include:

  • Excessive consumption of histamine-rich foods (such as aged cheeses, alcohol, fermented foods like sauerkraut, cocoa products, yogurt, eggplants, tomatoes, spinach, and green tea)
  • Foods that increase histamine production (e.g. alcohol, citrus fruits, bananas, tomatoes, chocolate, etc.)
  • Consumption of foods that inhibit the breakdown of histamine (e.g. alcohol, green tea, black tea, and energy drinks)
  • Medications that prevent histamine breakdown (such as some antibiotics, pain medications, and antidepressants)
  • The presence of the wrong bacteria in the digestive tract, resulting in increased histamine production
  • Certain nutritional deficiencies (e.g. vitamin B6 or zinc), some gastrointestinal conditions, prolonged stress, and liver dysfunction can make you more susceptible to histamine intolerance

What are the treatment strategies for histamine intolerance?

If you suffer from histamine intolerance, you can benefit from the following treatment options:

  • Foods high in histamine should be avoided; stick to a low-histamine diet instead
  • Avoiding histamine-producing substances
  • Medication that inhibits diamine oxidase or histamine N-methyltransferase enzymes should be avoided after consulting a doctor
  • Supplementation of the diamine oxidase enzyme with meals containing histamine, and the use of antihistamines or natural substances that aid in histamine breakdown

Because complete avoidance of histamine is not possible for most people, a combination of these strategies could be most effective.

QUESTION

Allergies can best be described as: See Answer
References
Image Source: Science Photo Library / Getty Images

WebMD. Foods High in Histamine. https://www.webmd.com/diet/foods-high-in-histamine#1

Comas-Basté O, Sánchez-Pérez S, Veciana-Nogués MT, Latorre-Moratalla M, Vidal-Carou MDC. Histamine Intolerance: The Current State of the Art. Biomolecules. 2020;10(8):1181. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7463562/

Peltz S. Histamine Intolerance. Spring 2018 https://www.polohealth.com/about/media/eco-parent/histamine-intolerance.pdf

Top How Do I Know If I Have Histamine Intolerance Related Articles

  • Allergic Contact Dermatitis Picture
    Allergic contact dermatitis. Exposure to the oily sap (urushiol) of poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac can result in redness and itchy blisters which can spread if scratched. The rash is an...
  • Allergy
    An allergy refers to a misguided reaction by our immune system in response to bodily contact with certain foreign substances. When these allergens come in contact with the body, it causes the immune...
  • Allergy Shots
    Allergy shots are given to increase your tolerance to allergens that cause allergy symptoms. At the beginning, allergy shots will be administered once or twice a week for several months. The dose is...
  • Can You Suddenly Become Allergic to Cats?
    Yes, it is possible to suddenly become allergic to cats, since various allergies can develop at any point in your life, such as a pet allergy.
  • Food Allergies Slides
    What common food allergens cause the most problems for adults and children? See this list of common food allergies and learn to avoid allergens with these tips.
  • Cosmetic Allergies
    Fragrances and preservatives in cosmetics may cause allergic reactions in some people. Symptoms include redness, itching, and swelling after the product comes in contact with the person's skin....
  • Eye Allergy
    Eye allergy (or allergic eye disease) are typically associated with hay fever and atopic dermatitis. Medications and cosmetics may cause eye allergies. Allergic eye conditions include allergic...
  • Food Allergy
    The most common food allergies are to eggs, nuts, milk, peanuts, fish, shellfish, strawberries and tomatoes. Symptoms and signs of a food allergy reaction include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,...
  • Hay Fever
    Hay fever (allergic rhinitis) is an irritation of the nose caused by pollen and is associated with the following allergic symptoms: nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, eye and nose itching, and...
  • How Long Does an Allergic Reaction Last?
    Allergic reactions may last for varying lengths of time. They may take a few hours to a few days to disappear. If the exposure to the allergen continues, such as during a spring pollen season,...
  • Ways to Reduce Mold Allergies
    WebMD shows you 10 ways to fight the fungus and reduce mold allergy symptoms from dust masks to bottles of bleach.
  • Nasal Irrigation
    Clogged sinuses and congestion bothering you? Nasal irrigation can relieve sinus symptoms associated with colds and allergies. Learn how to do nasal irrigation with this visual guide from WebMD.
  • 10 Signs Your Allergies Are Out of Control
    Learn 10 signs your allergies are out of control. See these surprising allergy symptoms and find out how to get relief for sneezing, congestion, watery eyes, and more.
  • Skin Allergy Test
    Skin allergy testing can be used to help diagnose substances that can trigger the immune system in the body to produce an allergic reaction.
  • What Are the 4 Types of Allergic Reactions?
    Allergists recognize four types of allergic reactions: Type I or anaphylactic reactions, type II or cytotoxic reactions, type III or immunocomplex reactions and type IV or cell-mediated reactions.