Histamines are everywhere. They make our noses run, tongues itchy and skin reactive. Taking an anti-histamine is an option but if you are my patient then you know, I start with asking WHY.
A genetic background of a reduced histamine metabolism has also been investigated. The human DAO gene is located on chromosome 7q35. Exceeding the individual histamine tolerance gives rise to these pesky symptoms. A recent study in the Journal of Nutrition, echos my position, that histamine intolerance seems to be acquired mostly through the impairment of DAO gene. Do you need your genes tested? I say no, your symptoms are enough to surmise you have an issue. But, you may not know…
Common allergy drugs have been linked to fertility problems in men. Antihistamines are often used to relieve symptoms of allergies such as hay fever, hives, conjunctivitis and reactions to insect bites or stings and are available either over-the-counter or on prescription.
An Argentinian review of studies involving the commonly taken drugs has found that they could have negative long-term side effects for male fertility. The study, published in the journal Reproduction, found a number of papers reported adverse effects of antihistamine on normal testicular function. They discovered antihistamines were likely to affect the production of male sexual hormones in the testicles, which could lead to altered morphology and decreased motility of sperm, as well as a lower sperm count.
Histamine fertility in female reproduction:
It is also connected to female reproduction and increases around ovulation time. Here’s how: Estrogen both stimulates histamine production and decreases the enzymes used to clear it from the system. As estrogen levels increase in relation to progesterone at ovulation time, histamine production increases.
Pass on eating leftovers:
Histamines are present to various degrees in many foods, and their presence increases with maturation.
Along with histamine-rich food, many foods such as citrus foods are considered to have the capacity to release histamine directly from tissue mast cells, even if they themselves contain only small amounts of histamine.
My advice is to opt for a histamine-free diet. Alcohol and long-ripened or fermented (and therefore histamine-rich) food, such as aged cheese, cured meat, and yeast products; histamine-rich food, such as spinach or tomatoes; or histamine liberators, such as citrus fruit, should be avoided ; the histamine-free diet can be complemented with a supplement called HistDao. Interestingly, most antihistamines have no influence on DAO activity, although inhibition of DAO by the supplement DAO have been observed.
Food for thought,
Dr C
