Histamine: the role of DAO in intolerance
Histamine is a natural compound your body produces to support digestion, immunity, and brain function.
However, too much histamine can trigger chaos. Headaches, hives, digestion, anxiety and even insomnia.
The culprit isn’t always the histamine itself but how well your body breaks it down.
This is where an enzyme called DAO, or diamine oxidase, is important.
DAO is an enzyme produced mainly in your intestinal lining. Its primary role is to degrade histamine from food before it enters your bloodstream.
When DAO levels are sufficient, histamine is quickly neutralized and excreted. But when DAO activity is low, histamine builds up. The reasons can be genetics, gut inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, or certain medications.
This buildup mimics allergic reactions even when no allergen is present. You might feel itchy, flushed, dizzy, or bloated after eating seemingly harmless foods like avocados, spinach, or cheese. These are foods that are rich in histamine.
So what can you do?
Improving the role of DAO activity starts with healing your gut. Start by improving the intestinal lining. Your lining comprises epithelial cells, which renew every four days. Stopping foods that cause damage, such as gluten, alcohol, or processed foods, helps.
Restoring gut integrity through an anti-inflammatory diet, rich in whole foods, omega-3 fats, and fiber, helps your body produce more DAO naturally.
Certain nutrients are vital co-factors for DAO production. Vitamin B6, copper and Vitamin C, for example. Think chickpeas, nuts, and lemon.
Reducing histamine-rich and histamine-liberating foods gives your system space to recover. Egg whites and shellfish, for example.
Probiotics also play a dual role. Strains like Bifidobacterium Longum, help reduce histamine levels, while others may worsen them, so choosing the right strain matters.
You can also support detoxification pathways by staying hydrated, managing stress, and sleeping well.
DAO deficiency is a symptom of a larger imbalance, not the cause itself.
In the end, histamine intolerance is not a disease but a signal. Your body telling you that something is amiss. As far as possible, solve the root cause.
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