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What is Histamine

Histamine is a naturally occurring chemical in the body responsible for the immune responses, digestion, and acts as a neurotransmitter. It is found chiefly in mast cells and basophils and is secreted in allergic reactions to assist with countering perceived threats.

One of the key histamine function roles is in the immune system. Release of histamine leads to dilated, more permeable blood vessels. This helps immune cells to rapidly travel to affected tissues, causing prominent symptoms like redness, swelling, itching, and warmth. Though uncomfortable, these responses are how the body goes about its natural defense mechanism.

It also regulates stomach acid production for digestion. In the brain, histamine affects wakefulness and appetite. Most times, enzymes such as diamine oxidase (DAO) remove this excess histamine to maintain the levels.

Histamine intolerance happens because the body doesn’t break down histamine enough, and as a result, the level rises. The overload to this can induce a whole spectrum of histamine intolerance symptoms, such as headache, skin rash, nausea/prolonged stomach discomfort, nasal congestion, or fatigue.

Histamine can also be present in high concentrations in some foods, and our intestinal flora, specifically our gut bacteria, can produce histamine as a part of their metabolism. Particularly in SIBOS (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth syndrome), where an imbalance of gut flora, mainly putrefaction bacteria, can be a significant contributor to increased histamine load.

Histamine can also be present in high concentrations in some foods, and our intestinal flora, specifically our gut bacteria, can produce histamine as a part of their metabolism. Particularly in SIBOS (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth syndrome), where an imbalance of gut flora, mainly putrefaction bacteria, can be a significant contributor to increased histamine load.

What Is Histamine Intolerance?

Do you frequently experience unexplained headaches, skin rashes, bloating, and/or a runny nose after mealtime? Then, you could be suffering from histamine intolerance — a condition where the body finds it difficult to clear excess histamine, which manifests in various kinds of symptoms.

A histamine intolerance test can reveal the extent to which you often have trouble getting rid of histamine — a condition associated with low activity of an enzyme called diamine oxidase (DAO), which is responsible for removing histamine from your gut. The test is normally performed to measure either DAO levels in your blood or histamine levels in either your blood or urine to determine if your body can handle histamine. Some diagnostic protocols may also include a diamine oxidase test to assess enzyme activity directly.

Approximately 3% of the general population has a genetically inherited severe deficiency of DAO, resulting in visible histamine intolerance, while around 20% experience a milder form of this condition.

If you and your practitioner can detect the condition using a validated histamine intolerance test, they can tailor your options to manage your symptoms, be it dietary changes, support gut health, or decreased load on the overall histamine system. This test can be especially useful if you have ongoing symptoms that don’t respond to common allergy testing or elimination diets.

Histamine Intolerance Test (DAO)

The dao enzyme test helps assess how efficiently your body breaks down histamine by evaluating the activity of diamine oxidase, the key enzyme responsible for histamine metabolism in the gut. Here is what makes histamine intolerance test highly reliable:

  • Used as a standalone test for histamine intolerance or add to other IgG food intolerance tests for a complete picture.
  • Used by GPs and clinicians in over 40 countries.
  • Conducted in specialized certified German labs.
  • Undertaken with medically validated ELISA test method.
  • Tested with blood serum for accuracy (food intolerance blood test).

Symptoms of Histamine Intolerance

A dao deficiency test can help uncover whether low diamine oxidase levels are contributing to recurring, multi-system symptoms caused by excess histamine in the body. Here are the some of the following symptoms you must watch out for:

  • Hayfever
  • Migraines
  • Dizziness
  • Gastrointestinal complaints
  • Tachycardia (fast heart rate), arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)
  • Menstrual pain
  • Asthma
  • Depression
  • Itching, red skin

Who Should Go for a Histamine Intolerance Test?

A diamine oxidase blood test can help identify whether low DAO activity is the underlying reason behind persistent, unexplained symptoms that don’t respond to standard treatments. You can consider getting yourself tested, if you are experiencing:

  • Allergy-like symptoms with negative allergy tests
  • Digestive symptoms triggered by aged/fermented foods
  • Chronic migraines or hormonal symptoms
  • Poor response to common allergy treatments
Our products
ImuPro
Food Sensitivity Test
CoGAP MetaCheck
DNA-Based Metabolism Test
Histamine
Intolerance (DAO) Test
NeuroSpot
Neurotransmitter Testing
Gut Microbiome
Gut Microbiome Analysis

List of Food

High in Histamine

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Frequently Asked Questions about Histamine

Histamine is an important chemical which is generated in the body itself and also supplied through food. Histamine is stored in mast cells and nerve cells and is available there to be released. A problem may arise if there is an overabundance of histamine and it is unable to be broken down by means of the enzyme Diamine oxidase (DAO). If the enzyme is not available in sufficient quantity symptoms of a histamine intolerance occur

Yes, a histamine intolerance is indicated by low DAO enzyme activity and can cause histamine related symptoms. At the same time, you can have delayed IgG reactions to food. With a histamine intolerance you need to reduce the amount of histamine rich food you have in a meal. With a delayed IgG reaction, you need to eliminate those foods for a period of time before gradually reintroducing them into your diet. The ImuPro Bundle Test will combine the results of the Complete 270 foods and your DAO test results.

Symptoms can often present the same but the causes and therefore the testing is different. If your DAO test results show normal DAO enzyme activity, then it won’t be the reason for your symptoms. Further diagnosis such as IgG (ImuPro Test), IgE classic allergy or other tests should be carried out to find the cause

Food items that undergo a long ageing process are particularly rich in histamine. Examples of foods rich in histamine alcoholic beverages (especially champagne, red wine and wheat beer), aged cheeses, chocolate, aged or cured meats like salami, vinegar, tomatoes, citrus fruits, strawberries, pineapple and some nuts like cashews and walnuts.

The DAO (Histamine Intolerance) test is not measuring histamine levels. It is measuring the DAO enzyme activity in your body which is responsible for breaking down the excess histamine in food. If you do not produce enough DAO enzyme you cannot break down histamine adequately and that can lead to allergic type symptoms. We are the only company in Australia who offer this type of test direct to consumer. If the test results indicate an intolerance, you can change your diet and reduce your intake of foods containing histamine. Once you have measured your DAO level, it is not likely to change too significantly over time. This is unlike tests for histamine itself which can change dramatically depending on environment and diet. We analyze DAO activity via a blood serum sample.

No, you don’t need to stop taking antihistamines. Just stop histamine rich food 2 days prior to blood collection: alcohol, cheese, chocolate, cured meats, fermented foods, and if applicable DAO supplements such as DAOSIN or Histamine.

If you react to foods like wine, cheese or chocolate and get an allergic type of reaction such as red or itchy skin, runny nose, asthmatic type conditions, sinus congestion/blocked nose or headaches then it could be because your body is not breaking down the excess histamine contained in food. Once we measure your DAO enzyme it is a good indication if your symptoms are caused by a histamine intolerance or not.

If your test results show you have low DAO enzyme activity, then you need to cut down the amount of histamine rich foods you have in a meal. (Unlike the IgG ImuPro results where you need to eliminate elevated foods for a period of time).