Histamine intolerance is more common in people with underlying digestive issues. Conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, IBS, and SIBO increase the risk of histamine intolerance.
Histamine intolerance (HIT) is assumed to be due to a deficiency of the gastrointestinal (GI) enzyme diamine oxidase (DAO) and, therefore, the food component histamine not being degraded and/or absorbed properly within the GI tract.
MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome) You often hear histamine intolerance and mast cell activation syndrome or MCAS used together or even interchangeably.
There is currently no cure for histamine intolerance. The key to success is for the patient to learn to adjust to a low-histamine diet and manage the condition(s) until it either goes away, or for life. The patient needs to avoid stress.
Histamine is a signaling molecule, sending messages between cells. It tells stomach cells to make stomach acid. And it helps our brain stay awake.
Effectively healing a leaky gut to improve histamine intolerance often requires removing food sensitivities, following a wholesome diet, reducing stress, and supplementing when necessary. Part of the gut health regimen for this condition may include probiotics for histamine intolerance.
The severity of symptoms can vary from person to person. Because levels of histamine can build up in the body, people who have allergies in addition to a histamine intolerance can experience more serious allergic reactions.
If your physician doesn't discover the problem of high histamine, you may suffer with migraines, clusters, Hashimoto's, anxiety, asthma, irritable bowel syndrome, dermatographia, vertigo, abnormal menstrual cycles and much more.
This can trigger an immune system response resulting in symptoms such as diarrhea, shortness of breath, headaches, or skin irritation.
Magnesium is a mineral that relieves the constriction of the airways in the lungs. It's been found that magnesium deficiency can cause an increase in histamine levels in the blood after being exposed to allergens.
The body also can't burn calories effectively when the histamine receptor is blocked, lowering metabolism. These biological changes result in increased appetite, overeating, slower fat breakdown and weight gain.
High levels of histamine can also trigger digestive symptoms like bloating [7], and diarrhea [8], heart rate changes or palpitations [9], low blood pressure [10], and headaches [11].
The bacterial histamine then activates the gut immune system through histamine-4 receptor, which draws immune mast cells into the intestines. These activated mast cells produce even more histamine and other pain-signalling mediators, triggering inflammation and pain.
Therefore, in addition to its classical roles in the inflammatory process, histamine is recognized as a key player in immune regulation.
The signs of histamine intolerance can be quite broad and include [8,9]: Fatigue. Brain fog and poor concentration. Headaches or migraines.
Allergens Cause Biochemically Based Fatigue
In addition to immunoglobulin E, the immune system releases a substance called histamine. When both of these substances produce an inflammatory reaction in the body, you may experience a sense of tiredness alongside other, more obvious allergic symptoms.
Unrelated to the immune system, histamine is also produced in the brain, where it plays an important part in feeling awake. Antihistamines used to treat respiratory symptoms can get into the brain and interrupt this work, making you feel drowsy.
Vitamin C has many immune boosting properties, but is distinctively beneficial for individuals with seasonal discomfort because of its ability to deactivate histamine.
There is also interest around vitamin co-factors which aid the DAO enzyme in degrading histamine, such as the B complex vitamins. Vitamin B6 and Vitamin C, in particular, have been shown to reduce symptoms of seasickness and histamine intolerance.
Vitamin D3 provides support for a variety of body systems. This support is important for those who suffer from histamine intolerance, which also impacts a variety of body systems.
Excess histamine can cause joint pain, musculoskeletal or connective tissue pain (fibromyalgia), chronic fatigue, bloating, constipation or diarrhea, estrogen dominance and painful menstruation, hypotension, tachycardia or rapid heart rate, dizziness, trouble regulating your body temperature, and trouble sleeping.
Histamine release in the hypothalamus and other target regions was highest during wakefulness. The histaminergic neurons displayed maximal activity during the state of vigilance, and cease their activity during NREM and REM sleep.