Histamine intolerance

Histamine intolerance is a presumed set of adverse reactions (such as flushing, itching, rhinitis, etc.) to ingested histamine in food. The mainstream theory accepts that there may exist adverse reactions to ingested histamine, but does not recognize histamine intolerance as a separate medical condition that can be diagnosed. There is a common suspicion that ingested histamine in persons with deficiencies in the enzymes that metabolize histamine may be responsible for various non-specific health complaints, which some individuals categorize as histamine intolerance; still, histamine intolerance is not included as an explicit condition in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) Edition 11. The scientific proof that supports the idea that eating food containing histamine can cause health problems is currently limited and not consistent. Some studies have attempted to elucidate a direct, causal link between histamine ingestion and clinical symptoms associated with histamine intolerance, but the results have been mixed, complicating the interpretation of the data.

Histamine intolerance affects a variable portion of the population, with estimates on about 1%, though exact prevalence is unclear due to diagnostic challenges. Current research focuses on better understanding the condition's etiology (causes), improving diagnostic methods, and developing effective treatments, but no such treatment has been found so far. Research is primarily focused on dietary adjustments and lifestyle modifications which are currently the most promising options. Societally, histamine intolerance has led to increased awareness and dietary adjustments, but it remains a controversial and under-recognized condition in the medical community.