Tests for:
Histamine intolerance via total histamine degrading capacity.
Symptoms and conditions:
- Migraine
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Gastrointestinal complaints
- Soft stools
- Tachycardia, arrhythmia
- Hypotension
- Menstrual pain
- Rhinitis
- Dry nose
- Asthma
- Depressions
- Skin irritation
Causes of intolerance:
1) Consumption of foods rich in histamine, such as:
- Fish: e.g. tuna fish, sardine
- Cheese: e.g. Emmental, Gouda
- Vegetables: e.g. sauerkraut, spinach
- Smoked meat: e.g. salami
- Alcohol: e.g. red wine, sparkling wine
- Vinegar: e.g. balsamic vinegar
After the consumption, the histamine concentration in the blood will increase. In particular foodstuffs that ripen for a very long time or that are stored for a very long time, have a high content of histamine that may cause problems depending on DAO activity.
2) Consumption of biogenous amines & histamine liberators, such as:
- Chocolate and cocoa
- Citrus fruits
- Nuts
- Pulses
- Wheat germs
- Black and green tea
- Tomatoes
- Strawberries, bananas, pineapples,
- Kiwifruits, papaya, raspberries, pears
In case of a high consumption of biogenous amines, DAO is no longer available in sufficient quantities for the degradation of histamine. Other foodstuffs, so-called histamine liberators, can release the body’s histamine and thus have a negative influence on the histamine level in the body.
3) Inhibition of the enzyme by intake of:
- Alcohol
- Drugs like e.g.: acetylcysteine, ambroxole, aminophylline, amitriptyline, chloroquine, clavulinic acid, isoniazid, metamizole, metoclopramide, propafenone, verapamil
The inhibition of the DAO enzyme results in histamine intolerance. Possible potent inhibitors of DAO are in particular alcohol, but also some common drugs.
4) Affected intestinal flora:
An affected intestinal flora produces considerable quantities of histamine and other biogenous amines that lead to an additional inhibition of DAO.
5) Vitamin B6 and copper deficiency:
Copper is a central component of DAO. A deficiency of copper results in not enough DAO being produced. Vitamin B6 is a co-factor of DAO. Without vitamin B6, the enzyme is not able to degrade histamine.
6) Congenital deficiency of DAO:
This very rare type of histamine intolerance is based on a congenital enzyme defect due to which the enzyme is not produced in sufficient quantities.
Method:
Radio Immuno Assay (RIA)