Migraine and tiredness? Learn about the DAO enzyme and how to avoid its deficiency

Many headaches and other physical complaints appear as a consequence of the difficulties in the body to get rid of histamine, a substance found in some foods that is also produced by the body in the context of an allergic reaction.

The most frequent symptoms of excess histamine in the body are:

Migraines.Gastrointestinal disorders.Certain arrhythmias.Hypotension.Urticarias.Rhinitis.Fatigue.Menstrual disorders.Muscular aches.

A variety of foods with more or less histamine content can trigger the discomfort, unlike allergies themselves, which respond to one or a few foods. This variety makes it difficult to establish a maximum tolerable portion for the consumption of suspect foods. In addition, a low activity of the DAO enzyme in the body can cause this reaction.

Why an allergy-like reaction occurs

Immune cells called mast cells and basophils, widely present in the skin and mucous membranes, store histamine-containing granules that are released in response to various stimuli. One of them is the action of immunoglobulins E (IgE) when they recognize an allergen and trigger the immune response.

histamine It is not only manufactured by our body endogenously, but it is also found in multiple foods. Hence, many people can experience allergic-type reactions, even without an actual allergy, after eating various foods high in histamine. It is what is called intolerance to non-allergic histamine, since it is an increased sensitivity to this molecule.Histaminosis or histamine intolerance It is caused both by an excess of this substance in the body (due to the intake of foods that contain it) and by the difficulty in breaking it down (due to the low activity of the DAO enzyme.Diamine oxidase (DAO), found mainly in the intestinal mucosa and acts during digestion, It is the enzyme responsible for breaking down histamine. If DAO is normally active, histamine is broken down and excreted in the urine. But if it is not active enough, it reaches the blood plasma and causes symptoms. The histamine-N-methyltransferase (HNMT) enzyme has the same degradation function, but not in the liver and other organs and tissues, and its activity may also be insufficient.

What Causes Low DAO Enzyme Activity

The causes of the decrease in the production of DAO and the inactivity of the HNMT are several. They may be due to a genetic or acquired dysfunction, but also due to a deficiency of cofactors such as vitamin C, B6, copper or zinc.People suffering from gastrointestinal disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease or a bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) are prone to have an alteration in this enzymatic activity. Drugs and alcohol also have an inhibitory effect.

How is the problem diagnosed?

Blood test. It is possible to realize a blood test for the activity of the DAO enzyme. Normal levels are above 80 HDU/ml (histamine degrading units per milliliter). Between 40 and 80 HDU/ml is considered low and levels below 40 HDU/ml indicate a significant deficit that may be the cause of the discomfort.Histamine test in pharmacies. Histamine accumulation can also be measured in blood, which begins to give symptoms from 50-75 µg/ml, although there are differences between people.

Protect the liver to avoid symptoms

In addition to checking the enzymatic activity of the DAO, it is important to help the liver perform its conjugation and elimination functions. DAO breaks down histamine in the intestine into three compounds that, in turn, have to be transformed in the liver to be eliminated, as some of them are even more toxic than histamine itself.

If transformation and deletion does not occur completely characteristic symptoms may appear. “People with histamine intolerance –explains Xevi Verdaguer, a specialist in psychoneuroimmunology– blush easily when playing sports, when they feel ashamed or simply by scratching. In these people, mosquito bites often leave large red marks on the skin.

What are the products of histamine breakdown and how can we promote rapid and efficient elimination? Let’s see what we can do to help the liver get rid of them:

Taking care of the intestinal flora reduces histamine

The proliferation of certain fungi, bacteria and parasites can alter the intestinal microbiota and cause immune stimulation with the release of histamine. They are microorganisms like Blastocystis hominis, Campylobacter jejuni, Cryptosporidium parvum, entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Toxacara canis and Candida albicans.

These pathogens consume vitamin B6, they produce free radicals, permeate the intestinal mucosa and compete with the beneficial bacteria that favor the balance of the organism.Symptoms such as abdominal swelling, constipation, white tongue, itchy skin, food intolerances, chronic fatigue, headaches, premenstrual syndrome, as well as high eosinophils in blood tests are common signs of parasitism.A cure can be made with products that eliminate pathogens (oregano, thyme, berberine, Pseudowintara colorata, garlic, cloves, caprylic acid…) for 15 days, rest for 5 and repeat for 15 days. At the same time you can take probiotics: Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, L. plantarum and Bifidobacterium infantis. You have to avoid the L.casei and L. bulgaricusThey stimulate the production of histamine.

Hormonal balance against DAO deficiency

Estrogens and DAO deficiency are related. The hormones stimulate histamine production and reduce the DAO enzyme. In turn, histamine induces the ovaries to produce more estrogen. Women with hyperestrogenism may have DAO deficiency and suffer from the symptoms of histamine intolerance.

It is a priority to correct the causes of excessive estrogen production. It may be a progesterone deficiency, excessive aromatase activity, exposure to pollutants with an estrogenic effect, altered intestinal microbiota, or liver malfunction.

Diet to reduce histamine

Researcher Sonja Lackner proposes a low-histamine diet for 13 months to improve intolerance and reduce symptoms.

Recommended foods to avoid excess histamine:

Green leafy vegetables, cabbages, artichokes, carrots, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, garlic, onions, leeks, zucchini, pumpkin, asparagus and seaweed. Gluten-free cereals such as millet, quinoa, buckwheat and amaranth. Fruits such as pear, apple, mango, Coconut, pomegranate, grapes, melon, watermelon, berries, figs, peaches, cherries and apricots. Flax, sesame and hemp seeds. Legumes, such as peas, lentils, beans, azukis… Rice milk, millet, quinoa , sesame, coconut or oats (certified gluten-free). Fresh goat and sheep cheeses are well tolerated.

Foods to avoid if there is a DAO deficiency. The following foods are eliminated for 13 months and reintroduced one by one:

Oranges, lemons, tangerines, grapefruit, kiwis, pineapple, papaya, avocado, banana, strawberries and plums. Sugar, additives, chocolate, coffee, tea, alcohol and vinegar. Dairy products from cows. Soybeans and their derivatives Smoked, preserved and fermented. Nuts Meat products, egg whites, oily fish and shellfish. Wheat and derivatives. Tomato, pepper, eggplant, potato, spinach and chard. Chickpeas, as they contain a little histamine.

Natural aids against DAO deficiency

Before taking any type of supplement or remedy, you should consult a specialist:

Exogenous DAO enzyme: It is most effective if taken in conjunction with the catalase enzyme. Take 1 tablet (with 0.3-0.5 mg of DAO and 250 mg of catalase). 20 minutes before each meal.Glutamine: Decreases the level of ammonia and strengthens the intestinal mucosa. Dose: 4 g per day.Quercetin: It is found in abundance in onions and helps metabolize ingested histamine. Dose: 2 g per day.Probiotics: B. infantis, B. longum, and L. rhamnosus regulate immunity and decrease histamine release.Vitamins C and B6, zinc and copper: They increase the activity of the DAO. It should be ensured that the recommended daily doses are achieved.