No single definitive test exists for histamine intolerance (HIT); diagnosis relies heavily on a supervised elimination diet (low-histamine diet) to see if symptoms improve, often combined with ruling out other conditions, though blood tests measuring the DAO enzyme activity can offer clues but aren't conclusive. A doctor or dietitian might suggest a low-histamine diet for 2-4 weeks, then reintroduce foods to identify triggers, alongside keeping a detailed symptom diary.
How is histamine intolerance diagnosed?
Currently, the only evidence-based strategy for alleviating or preventing symptoms is adherence to a low-histamine diet, often supplemented with exogenous DAO to enhance histamine breakdown at the intestinal level [8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16].
In the UK your GP can refer you to a lab, where they can measure the DAO activity in your blood serum and your histamine levels. Low DAO activity and high histamine levels are an indicator of HIT. Results are likely to be inaccurate if you are on a low-histamine diet when being tested.
The symptoms of histamine intolerance can be classified into two types: Direct: migraines, migraines, abdominal bloating after eating, diarrhoea, muscle cramps, deregulation of secretions (saliva, tears, vaginal discharge), abortions and infertility, among others.
Vitamin C. Vitamin C is a very common and well-known nutrient to strengthen the immune system and reduce inflammation. Vitamin C is also required to produce the necessary enzymes for the process of histamine breakdown, making it a vital anti-histamine nutrient.
Excess histamine can cause a variety of different symptoms which very often mimic allergic reactions. The most common symptoms are rashes (e.g. hives), itching, flushing, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), indigestion, breathlessness, palpitations, migraines, dizziness, anxiety/panic, joint aches and nasal congestion.
Histamine intolerance is a condition in which your body doesn't break down histamine in foods. The histamine then builds up and causes symptoms like diarrhea, shortness of breath, and headaches. Some scientists believe that histamine intolerance affects up to 1% to 3% of the population.
[3], HIT was often misdiagnosed as other diseases in the past (e.g., food allergy [4,5], irritable bowel syndrome [6,7], other food intolerance, celiac disease [8], eosinophilic gastroenteritis [9], urticaria, systemic mastocytosis [10], etc.).
The Histamine Check Swab is a rapid, portable, colorimetric screening test for histamine. Using the test requires no instrumentation and produces an easy to evaluate color reaction in only 5 minutes.
Environmental Factors: Allergens, pollution, and mold can trigger histamine release. Dietary Factors: Histamine-rich foods such as aged cheeses, fermented products, and alcohol exacerbate symptoms. Stress: Emotional or physical stress elevates histamine levels.
So if you suffer from histamine intolerance, you should prefer calmer sports such as strength training, Pilates or yoga. Interesting fact: Cardio training releases histamine and other inflammation substances, but the effect only takes temporary (up to 72 hours).
Histamine-induced anxiety can feel like restlessness, a racing heart, palpitations, or a sense of unease.
An intolerance to histamine is thought to be due to a lack of an enzyme called diamine oxidase. In this Factsheet you will find the most common foods that may be a problem to someone with a histamine intolerance and how best to go about identifying and eliminating problem foods.
Probiotics, especially lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, have characteristics that can be helpful in histamine intolerance. They can reduce the pathological permeability of the intestinal mucos, rebuild the intestinal flora, and thus strengthen the body's immune defense.
Histamine is used to help diagnose problems or disease of the stomach. This test determines how much acid your stomach produces.
The mainstream theory accepts that there may exist adverse reactions to ingested histamine, but does not recognize histamine intolerance as a separate medical condition that can be diagnosed. In 2023 blinded provocation study the vast majority of patients with the supposed syndrome reported symptoms to placebo.
Yes, Zyrtec is an H1 antihistamine that blocks histamine receptors in the body, specifically targeting H1 receptors to prevent symptoms related to allergic reactions and mast cell activation.
Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) develops when mast cells become overactive and release their contents, which include histamine and other substances that cause inflammation and allergy symptoms.
Medical Conditions
Autoimmune disorders affect immune system function, which might lead to more histamine being released (11). Another condition causing elevated histamine levels is mastocytosis, rare disorder involving abnormal mast cell growth—the cells that make and store histamine (12).
5 Steps I Used To Overcome My Histamine Intolerance
Vitamin B 6: Often there is a deficiency
In studies and in practice, it was found that many affected people have histamine intolerance, a vitamin B6 deficiency. Some sources state that vitamin B6 is required for the synthesis of the enzyme dao and is involved in the breakdown process of histamine.
DAO (Diamine Oxidase) Enzyme
People with histamine intolerance often have low DAO levels, leading to the accumulation of histamine. DAO supplements can help support histamine degradation and reduce symptoms like headaches, digestive issues, and skin reactions.
Under your skin. Near blood vessels and lymph vessels. In nerves. In your lungs and intestines.
One of the most significant contributors to elevated histamine levels is the gut microbiome. Certain strains of intestinal bacteria are capable of producing histamine themselves by converting the amino acid histidine into histamine via an enzyme called histidine decarboxylase.