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Histamine Intolerance (HIT) is the reduced ability to efficiently break down histamine. As a result, histamine levels rise and signs of histamine excess develop. Scientific literature also refers to this as histaminosis or histamine sensitivity. No matter what you call it, the reality is that the body is dealing with more histamine than is required for normal, healthy functions.

Excess histamine, whether introduced from the diet or produced within the body itself, will result in reactions often indistinguishable from allergy. This is not surprising, because the early symptoms of an allergic reaction are mediated by the histamine released during the progress of the allergic response.

Research suggests that approximately 1 percent of the population suffers from histamine intolerance, and 80 percent of those affected are middle-aged.¹ However, because the reactions are diverse, commonly mimic allergy, and are often misinterpreted, HIT is frequently unsuspected and therefore, the condition is generally under-recognized.

What Is Histamine?

Histamine is a bioactive chemical that is indispensable in many biological systems. It is a critical messenger molecule that promotes alertness, blood flow and healing. It is a neurotransmitter involved in several essential processes, including the regulation of stomach acid, the permeability of blood vessels, muscle contraction and brain function. Histamine plays an essential role in defending the body against invasion by potential disease-causing agents such as bacteria, viruses and other foreign bodies.

Histamine is made and stored within specialized white blood cells known as mast cells and basophils. When the immune system is activated, histamine is the first defense molecule, or “inflammatory mediator” released in the process of inflammation. Thus, histamine is a key mediator in the symptoms of an allergic reaction. But not all histamine reactions are due to allergy, and histamine levels are not exclusively tied to immune response. Histamine is also found in foods and beverages, and can be produced and released within the body due to other factors not related to immune response.

How Much Histamine Is Excessive?

While histamine levels of 0.3 to 1 ng/mL are considered normal,² everyone has a level of histamine that they tolerate without symptoms. Exceeding that tolerance threshold can result in reactions. Individual tolerance can vary due to a variety of factors including:

• Disease/abnormal physiological conditions
• Genetics
• Hormone changes, especially in women at various stages in the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause
• Use of certain medications

What Causes HIT?

Under “normal” conditions, excess histamine is degraded by two enzyme systems: Histamine N-methyl transferase (HNMT) mainly at cell surfaces, and Diamine oxidase (DAO) in serum and in the intestine.³ When histamine levels from any source rise above a certain level, these enzymes rapidly degrade the excess. However, when the rate of histamine breakdown is insufficient, the total level of histamine in the body rises. At a certain critical level, reactions occur. Of the two, the deficiency in the DAO enzyme system has received the most attention as the probable cause of HIT.

Common Histamine Reactions

Histamine Intolerance manifests in a variety of ways, including¹

• Itching (pruritus) especially of the skin, eyes, ears and nose
• Hives (urticaria)
• Tissue swelling (angioedema), especially of facial, nasal and oral tissues
• Reduced blood pressure (hypotension)
• Increased pulse rate (tachycardia)
• Anxiety or panic
• Chest pain
• Nasal congestion (rhinitis) and runny nose (rhinorrhea)
• Irritated, watery, reddened eyes (conjunctivitis)
• Headache
• Fatigue, confusion, irritability
• Digestive upset, especially heartburn, indigestion and reflux

Not all these reactions occur in any single person, and the severity of will vary, but individual reactions tend to be consistent.

DAO Defends Against HIT

While HIT can be brought on or mitigated by certain physiological conditions and extraneous influences, it is viewed primarily as a dietary intolerance similar to lactose intolerance: whereas lactose intolerance is the result of lactase deficiency, HIT is the result of DAO deficiency. And just as supplemental lactase helps those with lactose intolerance, supplemental DAO can help those who struggle with HIT.

Omne Diem Hitamine Digest products deliver pure, natural DAO in designed-release capsules that can be taken daily or prior to high-histamine foods to aid in the efficient breakdown of dietary histamine.*

*The statements in this article have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

References:

1 Maintz L, Novak N. Histamine and histamine intolerance. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007;85:1185-1196.
2 Dyer J, Warren K, Merlin S, Metcalfe DD, Kaliner M. Measurement of plasma histamine: description of an improved method and normal values. J Allergy Clin Imunol. 1982;70:72-87.
3 Huertz G-N, Schwelberger HG. Simultaneous purification of the histamine degrading enzymes diamine oxidase and histamine N-methyltransferase from the same tissue. Inflamm Res. 2003;52(suppl 1):S65-S66.

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