Detect and prove histamine intolerance
Histamine intolerance is a disease that has been described only in recent years. It is estimated that one to three percent of the population suffer from a histamine intolerance. Following the consumption of histamine rich foods, the affected persons exhibit allergy-like symptoms.
Classical allergy diagnostics show no results, as no immunoglobulins can be detected. This is due to the fact that histamine intolerance is characterized by a lack of the enzyme diaminooxidase (DAO) which eliminates excessive histamine.
Symptoms
Characteristic symptoms of a histamine intolerance are:
- flushing,
- nausea,
- diarrhoea,
- migraine headache,
- heat sensation, and
- dyspnoea.
The main difference between a histamine intolerance and a food allergy: in the case of a histamine intolerance, the strength of the symptoms depends on the amount of histamine added. Patients suffering from histamine intolerance should employ a histamine-poor diet.
There are several factores responsible for a DAO deficiency:
- Damage of enterocytes by gastrointestinal diseases
- Competitive inhibition of DAO via drugs (e.g., ASS, NSAID, verapamil, cimetidine, ambroxol, etc.), alcohol, and biogenic amines
- Genetic predisposition.
If the DAO is reduced in its function or activity, accumulation of extracellular histamine occurs. If the amount exceeds an individual’s tolerance, histamine-mediated symptoms will be triggered. In patients with reduced DAO activity, even small amounts of histamine can cause discomfort.
In addition, a modern diagnostic for histamine intolerance should include a faecal examination of microbial histamine generators such as Morganella morganii.
We offer the following parameters:
- Quantitative histamine determination
- Detection of histamine-forming microorganisms
- Determination of diaminooxidase (DAO) activity
