Histamine intolerance is not an allergy, as the symptoms may seem many times. It is a hypersensitivity to histamine. Histamine is produced by bacterial degradation of the amino acid histidine. It occurs naturally in the human body and its effects are manifested in allergic reactions when it is released in large quantities. It has a very important role in immune, defense and regulatory reactions.
It is also a very effective substance and the body has developed effective mechanisms to break it down quickly. The enzyme N-methyltransferase is present in almost all cells, which breaks down histamine of its own origin. In the kidneys and intestine, we have the enzyme diamine oxidase (DAO), which mainly breaks down histamine from external sources - from food.
Effects of histamine:
- has a positive effect on cell division and reproduction
- in the brain, it fulfills the function of the hormone of wakefulness - thanks to it, we are able to perform immediately, it has an effect on memory and learning, affects excitement, reduces appetite, is washed out in case of injury, trauma or infection
-participates in defense processes, regulates blood formation, activates energy pathways.
Histamine itself can also cause problems if a large amount of it is washed out of the cells at once. Allergists are especially familiar with it, when mast cells degranulate due to the allergen.
Released histamine causes symptoms such as runny nose, cough or abdominal pain, skin redness or shortness of breath. If this allergic reaction is exacerbated, a dangerous anaphylactic reaction may occur.
The condition can develop after eating certain foods . Some foods do not contain more histamine, but a substance that washes this substance out of the cells. They are the so-called histamine releasers. The reason is also a higher number of mast cells. When they break down, more histamine is released into the body. The cause of the increased level of histamine is also the reduced activity of the DAO-diamine oxidase enzyme.
It can also be provoked by chemicals from food, UV radiation, cold or heat. Histamine is very important for humans and is therefore also stored in some intestinal, nerve cells or even blood platelets. Therefore, we must not look at it as something bad, but as an important substance participating in signal transmission and also in important immune, protective and regulatory reactions.
In childhood and youth, the functionality of this enzyme is sufficient, it decreases with age. This is also why typical patients with a congenital enzyme disorder are middle-aged people, mostly women.
Long-term manifestations of HIT can cause chronic fatigue, menstrual cycle disorders, sleep disorders, nervousness, panic states, skin manifestations, heart rhythm disorders. This also affects our immune system. The alpha and omega is therefore the setting of a proper diet, which is not a simple matter and it should be noted that it interferes with the quality of life.
Acacia fiber Fiber engages the microbiota in immune management and acts as a powerful prebiotic. It creates a balance of the microflora of the large intestine, stimulates the growth of bifidus and faecalibacterium bacterial cultures, ensures its detoxification, suppresses inflammatory processes and creates an unfavorable environment for the action of putrefactive and pathogenic bacteria. It quickly and effectively restores the tissue and function of the intestine. All this creates a basis for maintaining health and mitigating the ongoing disease. In addition, acacia fiber promotes vitality, suppresses fatigue, improves sleep quality and promotes weight loss, and since it is a pure natural product of organic origin, it has no side effects.
- Katarína Kováčiková, pharmacist