Article: DAO and Histamine Intolerance: Connection and Solutions for Those Affected
DAO and Histamine Intolerance: Connection and Solutions for Those Affected
DAO and histamine – what role does the enzyme play in histamine degradation?
Histamine is a natural messenger substance in the body and is also found in numerous foods. Especially aged, fermented, or long-stored foods can contain higher amounts of histamine. In the context of the topic of histamine, the enzyme diamine oxidase (DAO) is also frequently mentioned.
In this article, you will learn:
- what histamine is
- which foods can contain histamine
- what function the enzyme DAO has
- what properties HISTAmed® DAOpur possesses
Histamine is found in many foods
Histamine is a natural component of numerous foods. Particularly high amounts can be found in products such as:
- aged cheese
- salami and other cured meat products
- soy sauce
- vinegar
- wine and other alcoholic beverages
- selected fruits and vegetables
The histamine content of a food can vary significantly depending on production, maturation, and storage. [1]
What is the function of DAO?
Diamine oxidase (DAO) is an endogenous enzyme found primarily in the small intestine. There, it is involved in the breakdown of histamine from food. In scientific publications, DAO is therefore frequently described as one of the most important enzymes of histamine metabolism. [2]
During enzymatic degradation, histamine is gradually converted into other metabolic products. This process is part of the body's normal histamine metabolism.
Histamine and individual tolerance
How well histamine-containing foods are tolerated can differ from person to person. In addition to the histamine content of a food, numerous individual factors play a role. These include dietary habits, the composition of the meal, or personal differences in histamine metabolism. [2]
HISTAmed® DAOpur
HISTAmed® DAOpur contains diamine oxidase (DAO). The contained mini-tablets are enteric-coated. This protects the enzyme from stomach acid and ensures it is only released in the small intestine.
The enteric-coated formulation was developed so that the enzyme is released in the small intestine – where the natural breakdown of histamine from food also takes place.
A holistic view of histamine
Numerous influencing factors are discussed in scientific literature regarding the topic of histamine. In addition to diet, lifestyle, sleep, stress, and individual metabolic differences are also being investigated. [2]
A food diary can help to better understand personal connections between certain foods and one's daily diet.
Conclusion
DAO is an endogenous enzyme involved in the breakdown of histamine from food. HISTAmed® DAOpur contains DAO in enteric-coated mini-tablets designed for release in the small intestine. Those dealing with the topic of histamine often benefit from keeping an eye on individual influencing factors in addition to their diet.
References
[1] Maintz L., Novak N. Histamine and histamine intolerance. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007;85(5):1185–1196.
[2] Comas-Basté O. et al. Histamine Intolerance: The Current State of the Art. Biomolecules. 2020;10(8):1181.
[3] Petersen J., Raithel M., Schwelberger H.G. Histamine N-methyltransferase and diamine oxidase gene polymorphisms in patients with inflammatory and neoplastic intestinal diseases. Inflamm Res. 2002;51(Suppl 1):S91–S92.
