Histamine intolerance (HIT)
What is histamine intolerance (HIT) and what causes it?
Histamine intolerance causes reactions to histamine rich foods and histamine-releasing foods. The body is unable to deal with the histamine entering the system as well as it should, resulting in a build of histamine causing physical and mental symptoms. It is natural to consume some histamine foods in the diet but individuals with HIT cannot break down the histamine enough to a normalised level. Diamine oxidase (DAO) is the main enzyme for breaking down histamine in the body, if this enzyme is deficient then it can create a histamine intolerance. Histamine intolerance is not a genetic issue and it is not related to interferences with the methylation cycle. Histamine intolerance is mainly due to a deficiency of diamine oxidase and irregular diamine oxidase activity which is caused and influenced by the following:
Please note: Anti-histamines can actually make a DAO deficiency worse by depleting DAO levels even though they are useful for lowering histamine body levels.
- Crohns, ulcerative colitis and inflammatory bowel disease
- Certain medications - NSAIDs, anti-depressants, acid-blocking medications, immune suppressants
- Copper deficiency or bio-unavailable copper (copper toxicity)
- Celiac disease
- Drinks that are DAO blockers - black tea, alcohol, energy drinks, green tea, mate tea
- Gluten intolerance
- Intestinal bacterial issues
- Leaky gut syndrome
- Mineral deficiencies - zinc, iron, magnesium
- Stress
- Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
- Vitamin C and B6 deficiency
Please note: Anti-histamines can actually make a DAO deficiency worse by depleting DAO levels even though they are useful for lowering histamine body levels.
Testing for histamine intolerance
Testing for histamine intolerance involves a diamine oxidase activity test. A blood sample is needed and will be tested for its diamine oxidase activity. If the diamine oxidase activity is below a certain reference range then this is an indication of histamine intolerance. For histamine intolerance testing please click here for the available tests page.
Treatment for histamine intolerance
Treatment for histamine intolerance involves restoring DAO levels (via supplements) in the body and eliminating the sources and influences of DAO deficiency. Dietary changes are also necessary to avoid high histamine containing foods and histamine-releasing foods. If you undergo the histamine intolerance test and you test positive then you will receive the treatment programme in the results email. If you have any questions about your results, then mindovermetal will answer them for you.
