Histamine Supplements

Histamine is a biogenic amine that occurs both in your body and in food. The substance stimulates the nerve endings of the autonomic nervous system and thereby has a regulating effect. It passes signals to the brain and the immune system, plays a role in digestion and in regulating body temperature, and is involved in breathing and blood circulation.

Although it is a substance the body makes itself, the body can only process a limited amount at a time. Where that limit lies differs from person to person. The enzyme that breaks down histamine from food in the gut is called diamine oxidase, usually abbreviated to DAO.

Food can contain histamine, but the level also rises through fermentation and ripening. That explains why the list mainly includes processed and aged products: mature or Parmesan cheese, red wine, yoghurt, spinach, fermented vegetables such as sauerkraut, and fish that is no longer fresh.

There are also histamine liberators: products that contain little histamine themselves but do cause the body to release histamine. Examples include strawberries, alcohol, chocolate, cinnamon, egg white, tomatoes, shellfish and crustaceans, and pork.

Some people are more sensitive to histamine than others. In conditions such as asthma, eczema and allergies, the immune system overreacts to substances that are in principle harmless. The body then produces a lot of histamine, which shows up in a wide range of complaints. Supplements can offer support to people dealing with hypersensitivities.

The difference between the two lies in the immune system. With an allergy, the immune system overreacts to a harmless substance, with antibodies that can be found in the blood. An intolerance bypasses the immune system and leaves no such traces, which makes it harder to identify. Sometimes it is found because the body turns out to be short of a particular enzyme.

Some of the products centre on PEA, or palmitoylethanolamide, a fatty acid amide that the body makes itself and that also occurs in eggs, soya and peanuts. There are also enzyme and flavonoid formulas with quercetin, rutin and bromelain, and products containing the enzyme diamine oxidase from pig kidney.

You will also find bacterial strains selected for their properties, and vitamin and mineral formulas containing B vitamins and copper, among others. Claims exist for those vitamins and for nettle; for PEA, quercetin, bromelain and DAO there is no authorised claim.