Histamine intolerance can cause many health issues including chronic skin conditions (eczema, hives, acne), gut issues (reflux, bloating, nausea, diarrhea and food intolerances), heart palpitations, anxiety, insomnia, vertigo, headaches and migraines.

Histamine intolerances occurs when the amount of histamine in the human body overloads the capacity of the two enzymes that degrade histamine. These enzymes are the DAO enzyme and the HNMT enzyme.

Histamine intolerance is the result of an underlying health issue. The most common health issues that increase histamine are small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), large bowel dysbiosis, overuse of antibiotics, exposure to environmental triggers such as pollen, barometric pressure changes and mould and the consumption of very high histamine foods. Oestrogen also increases histamine so women are more at risk of developing histamine intolerance.

The DAO enzyme is the major enzyme for histamine detoxification and it predominately breaks down histamine in the gut. In the case of SIBO or large bowel dysbiosis, there is often inflammation which leads to both a reduction in the production of the DAO enzyme and excretion of the DAO enzyme. Furthermore, inflammation will lead to mast cell release of histamine. The net result is too much histamine.

Histamine from the gut can get through into the brain, increasing histamine in the brain. Oestrogen also gets through to the brain and increases histamine. The net result of this is an overload of brain histamine.Histamine gets broken down in the brain by the HNMT enzyme. This enzyme is a class of enzyme called a methyltransferase enzyme, which requires a methyl group to work.

MTHFR is a key enzyme required for the production of methyl groups. Approximately 40% of the population of a gene mutation on MTHFR whereby there is a reduction in functioning of this enzyme leading to a reduction in methyl groups. If there is not enough methyl groups to break down histamine in the brain, histamine builds up causing headaches, migraines, vertigo, nausea, insomnia and an inability to regulate body temperature.

Joanne Kennedy is a naturopath that specialises in both histamine intolerance treatment and MTHFR Support. To find out more, visti www.joannekennedy.com.au

Contact Detail
Business Name: Sydney Health & Wellness Centre
Level 4, 88 Pitt Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Ph: 0400 658 003
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://joannekennedy.com.au