Histamine is not only a decisive factor in allergies. Its own balance in our body can have a more serious effect on our health than allergy if it is not metabolised correctly.

Our body produces many of the substances it needs to function. We could say that it is a perfect machine that uses its own resources and those from abroad to keep itself going. What it does not need, it transforms and discards.

However, this machine may fail because some of those resources become unbalanced, either too much or too little, and cause symptoms and diseases.. An example is autoimmune diseases, when our immune system overreacts and attacks our own body, or allergies, when we overreact to allergens.

One of the fundamental substances for our body to function well is the histamine, but its excessive presence in our blood can have serious consequences on our health.. Histamine is a molecule produced by our body that serves to:

• Regulating hormones thyroid hormones, growth hormones or hormones involved in the menstrual cycle.
• Intervene in the immune system reactions when it is activated.
• Regulates functions at the level of the central nervous systemacting as a neurotransmitter and neuromodulator
• Balancing biological rhythms such as body temperature, stress, sleep and food intake.
• It also intervenes in our concentration and learning abilityin our emotional regulation and even muscle fatigue and pain.

With all these functions for our body, histamine is metabolised by other substances, in particular by the enzyme Diamine Oxidase (DAO enzyme), which regulates the level of histamine in our blood.

Why is it important to keep histamine levels in balance?

Either ingested histamine or histamine produced by the body itself has to be properly metabolised. The adverse effects resulting from the accumulation of histamine in the blood plasma result in a range of symptoms that are non-specific and can affect different systems. These symptoms are sometimes likened to allergy symptoms, but it is not an allergy and they are not the only symptoms.

The histamine accumulation is caused by DAO enzyme deficiency.. Before we look at why this deficit occurs, let's look at the symptoms:

• Some symptoms can be related to allergyThe symptoms of histamine are not related to the intake of any particular food, but to the amount of histamine we consume in certain foods, which is not metabolised. However, it should be noted that these symptoms are not related to the ingestion of a particular food, but to the amount of histamine we consume in certain foods, which is not metabolised.
• Other symptoms are related to the cardiovascular system and may include: blood pressure, too high or too low, and arrhythmias.
• Irritable bowel syndromeconstipation and a feeling of fullness, stomach pain or nausea and vomiting.
• Muscle and bone pain.

It is possible that these symptoms are familiar to you, or even that you live with a malaise and have never related it to this deficit. It's easy to find out for sure. At Biosalud Day Hospital has a specific analysis that will determine the activity of the enzyme DAO. in your body, its capacity to synthesise histamine. All you have to do is visit our centres in Madrid or Zaragoza and take a blood test. In just three weeks you will know if your discomfort is related to histamine.

What can you do if you are deficient in DAO enzyme activity?

If the lack of DAO enzyme activity has a genetic backgroundIt is more difficult to act on excess histamine, when it is the body itself that produces it. But if we act on the histamine that comes from food, we can control its excess.

It should be borne in mind that DAO deficiency can also originate from the drug useThe same applies to radiotherapy or chemotherapy treatments, the alcohol consumption or even an imbalance of the intestinal mucosa.

Food is key, all foods contain histamineespecially those that spoil easily, such as meat and fish, or fermented foods and beverages. There is no consensus on the amount of histamine in each type of food, nor on the most appropriate level of histamine intake.

In any case, it is a good idea to know which foods to avoid in order to regain our health:

• Histamine-rich foods: fermented vegetable products, Emmental and Roquefort cheese, processed meat, oily fish, vinegar, aubergine, avocado and spinach.
• Foods that block the function of the enzyme DAOespecially alcohol. Even people with normal DAO enzyme activity feel unwell when alcohol is ingested.
• Foods that release endogenous histamineThe following are also harmful: alcohol, citrus fruits, fried tomatoes, seafood and fish, pork, cereals, mushrooms and chocolate.

Eating a histamine-free diet requires a great sacrifice and in any case, it must be followed in accordance with the instructions of a specialist.