Have you ever had this happen to you? After eating certain foods, such as cheese, wine, tomatoes , or chocolate, you may experience a headache, a feeling of fullness, or a rash all over your body. Most of the time, we think this is an allergy . But it doesn't always have to be an allergy. This could be due to a condition called ' Histamine Intolerance', which is caused by a deficiency of an enzyme in your body. Today, we'll talk about the enzyme involved in this called Diamine Oxidase (DAO).
What is Diamine Oxidase (DAO)?
Simply put, diamine oxidase, or DAO for short, is a very important enzyme produced in our bodies, especially in the intestines, that helps us digest food. An enzyme is a protein that speeds up chemical processes in our bodies.
So, the main job of this DAO enzyme is to break down the chemical compound called histamine in the foods we eat and help eliminate it from the body without it being absorbed.
Imagine, what happens if your body doesn't produce enough DAO enzyme? Then the amount of histamine in the foods you eat cannot be broken down and accumulates in the body. We call this condition DAO deficiency (Diamine Oxidase Deficiency) . The discomfort caused when histamine accumulates in the body in this way is called histamine intolerance or, as some call it , food histaminosis .
The important thing is not to confuse this with a normal food allergy. In an allergy, our immune system responds directly. But in histamine intolerance, there is a buildup of histamine due to a lack of enzymes that can break it down.
What foods are high in histamine?
Histamines are naturally present in many foods. They are especially high in fermented and preserved foods. You can get an idea of this from the table below.
| Type of food | Examples |
|---|---|
| Fermented foods and drinks | Wine, beer, aged cheeses, yogurt, soy sauce |
| Preserved meat/fish | Sausages, salami, smoked fish |
| Vegetables and fruits | Tomatoes, spinach, eggplant, avocado, strawberries, pineapple |
| Other | Chocolate, cocoa, nuts, milk, eggs, shellfish |
When you look at this list, you might think that all of these are bad. That's not true. Not everyone will have problems with all of these foods. Even for someone with histamine intolerance, just one or a few of these foods may cause discomfort.
What are the symptoms of Histamine Intolerance?
When histamine levels in the body increase, a variety of symptoms can occur. It's like having many small problems all at once.
| Body system | Possible symptoms |
|---|---|
| Head and nervous system | Migraines, severe headaches, dizziness |
| Digestive system | Bloating, stomach ache, nausea, vomiting, constipation, gas |
| Skin | Hives/Urticaria, redness of the skin, exacerbation of skin diseases (e.g. Psoriasis) |
| Respiratory system | Nasal congestion, runny nose , asthma symptoms |
| Other | Rapid heartbeat, muscle pain, extreme fatigue |
Is there any relief from DAO supplements?
There are supplements available on the market that contain the DAO enzyme. Taking these supplements will replenish the body's depleted DAO enzyme levels. Therefore, taking this supplement before eating a histamine-rich meal will help break down the histamine in that meal.
Research shows that some people find relief from these.
- Migraines and headaches : In one study, when people with migraines were given a DAO supplement for a month, the duration of their headaches was reduced by an average of about 90 minutes.
- Stomach upset: In another small study, patients with histamine intolerance who were given DAO supplements for 4 weeks experienced a significant reduction in their stomach upset (such as bloating and stomach cramps).
- Skin diseases: One study found that giving DAO supplements to people with chronic hives (chronic hives) who have low levels of DAO in their bodies was able to reduce their need for antihistamines for allergies.
But these studies are still small, so more research is needed to definitively say whether these work for everyone, how long they should be taken, and how safe they are.
Are there any risks in taking these DAO supplements?
Just as there are advantages to something, there are also things to be careful about.
1. Lack of a definitive diagnosis: The biggest problem is that there is still no medical test that can confirm with 100% certainty whether you actually have Histamine Intolerance. This is often assumed based on symptoms. So, if you don't have this condition, taking these supplements will not help.
2. No Standards: These are not drugs, but dietary supplements. Therefore, there is no major regulation or legal framework for their production. This means that the amount of DAO, recommended dosages, and quality of each brand may vary.
3. Contains animal ingredients: This is a very important point. Some DAO supplements are made from animal kidney extract, especially pork kidney. So if you are someone who avoids animal products due to religious beliefs or other personal reasons, you should definitely be concerned about this.
Are there other ways to control this condition without supplements?
In fact, a better and more important first step than taking supplements is to follow a low-histamine diet .
This reduces the amount of histamine that is added to the body from outside. This allows the amount of DAO in the body to manage the amount of histamine that is added.
- How to do it? From the list of foods high in histamine that we discussed above, you can gradually identify the foods that seem to cause you the most discomfort and try eliminating them from your diet for a while. Keeping a food diary can help a lot with this. That is, writing down what you eat each day and the symptoms you experience.
- Medical advice: But rather than starting a diet like this on your own, it is best and safest to talk to your doctor and, if necessary, seek the advice of a dietitian. Because many of these foods are nutritious, it is not a good idea to simply eliminate them from your diet.
Take-Home Message
- DAO is an important enzyme that breaks down histamine in the foods we eat.
- If there is not enough DAO in the body, histamine can accumulate and cause allergy-like symptoms such as headaches, stomach upset, and skin problems. We call this Histamine Intolerance.
- While DAO supplements may help some people, there is still no definitive conclusion about their safety and effectiveness, and you should be careful about what they contain.
- The best way to manage this condition is to follow a low-histamine diet as directed by a doctor.
- If you have these symptoms, do not make decisions on your own and definitely consult your doctor before starting any supplements or special diets.
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