Pfeiffer has identified three main types among schizophrenia patients on the basis of biochemical abnormalities that are also seen in the population as a whole. His characterization of patients around the histamine axis (too high, normal or too low histamine) has proven to be a good tool for the assessment and treatment of schizophrenia patients who have nutrient deficiencies and who are treatable with nutrient (substances) therapy.
Low blood histamine (histapenia): Histapenia is often seen in patients with low levels of zinc and serum folate (and possibly also manganese) and high serum copper (and possibly also iron) .1 Schizophrenia patients with low histamine content - about 50% of schizophrenia patients according to Pfeiffer - mainly have symptoms of paranoia and hallucinations. 2.3
There may be a connection with the high serum copper that is often found. Copper stimulates the brain and 'destroys' histamine. Zinc and manganese can help lower an increased amount of copper (already in food doses). Folic acid (with vitamin B12) can help to raise the histamine level.
High histamine (histemia): Vitamin C acts as a modulator on the synthesis and release of histamine in the body: the human blood histamine increases with the decrease of the plasma ascorbic acid. Low vitamin C levels in the blood promote the synthesis and release of histamine, so that high blood histamine is seen in people with a low vitamin C level.
Allergy, drugs (heroin) and methadone use and lead poisoning may contribute to an increased histamine level. And a high tissue folate can also be accompanied by a high histamine. Schizophrenia patients with high histamine - about 20% of patients according to Pfeiffer - mainly have symptoms of suicidal depression.2 A history with allergies, headaches and a low pain threshold can also be part of the complaints.
Because histamine accelerates the oxidation of food, the patients can be thin and belong to the type that 'can eat and drink everything without arriving'.
Vitamin C can help to inhibit the histamine level. Calcium can help release histamine from (brain) tissues and thus lower the level in the tissues. Methionine can help to detoxify the body of histamine through methylation. Furthermore, zinc and manganese and the detection and treatment of possible allergies can have a beneficial effect.
For the 30 - 40% schizophrenia patients with normal histamine, the Kryptopyrrol can be used in urine.
FAQs
Concentrations of histamine in the blood and urine are normally very low. Significant increases can be seen in people with a severe allergic reaction and in those with a disorder in which the number of mast cells increase (proliferate) and/or activate without apparent allergies.
What causes histamine in the blood? ›
Allergies happen when your immune system overreacts to things such as pollen and mold. Your immune system might mistakenly think that these things, which are usually harmless, could be threats to your body. To defend against the so-called threats, your mast cells (a type of white blood cell) release histamine.
How do you remove histamine from blood? ›
Stay hydrated: Drinking enough water can help flush out histamine and other toxins from the body. Aim for at least 8 cups of water a day. Avoid triggers: Certain triggers, such as tobacco smoke and certain medications, can increase histamine levels. Avoiding these triggers can help reduce histamine levels in your body.
How do you fix high histamine levels? ›
However, one or more of the following approaches may help:
- taking antihistamines.
- taking DAO enzyme supplements.
- avoiding medicines associated with histamine intolerance, which may involve switching medications.
- taking corticosteroids.
You naturally produce histamine along with the enzyme diamine oxidase (DAO). DAO is responsible for breaking down histamine that you take in from foods. If you develop a DAO deficiency and cannot break down histamine, you could develop histamine intolerance.
What autoimmune disease causes histamine intolerance? ›
Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) develops when mast cells become overactive and release their contents, which include histamine and other substances that cause inflammation and allergy symptoms.
What foods flush out histamine? ›
Foods which are reported as having lower histamine levels include most fresh produce, fresh meat, certain fresh/frozen fish, eggs including quail eggs and most fresh herbs.
What neutralizes histamine? ›
But our journey doesn't end there because histamine then will move from your stomach into your small intestine where it comes into contact with an enzyme called the DAO or diamine oxidase. Now, DAO is our defense system within the intestine to neutralize histamine in our diet.
What are the worst histamine foods? ›
Foods high in histamine or triggering histamine release are the worst for histamine intolerance. These include fermented foods, cured meats, alcohol, aged cheeses, citrus fruits, fish, shellfish, avocados, tomatoes, nuts, and certain spices like cinnamon, chili powder, and cloves.
Does B12 lower histamine? ›
Folic acid (with vitamin B12) can help to raise the histamine level. High histamine (histemia): Vitamin C acts as a modulator on the synthesis and release of histamine in the body: the human blood histamine increases with the decrease of the plasma ascorbic acid.
Coffee is actually high in histamine and can result in an allergic reaction but it is different to a typical allergy mechanism. With caffeine, the histamine contained in the coffee causes an inflammatory reaction that can be affect some people with caffeine and histamine intolerances.
Are eggs high in histamine? ›
Boiled, fried, or poached eggs aren't affected by cooking methods when it comes to histamine content. Eggs are low in histamines, this makes them ideal for the low-histamine diet. Chickpeas, peanuts, and lentils have been found to have low concentrations of histamines and may be safely consumed in a low-histamine diet.
What is the root cause of histamine intolerance? ›
Histamine intolerance (HIT) is assumed to be due to a deficiency of the gastrointestinal (GI) enzyme diamine oxidase (DAO) and, therefore, the food component histamine not being degraded and/or absorbed properly within the GI tract.
Does drinking lots of water help histamine intolerance? ›
When the body is hydrated, it can better manage histamine production, which is linked to allergic reactions. However, water is not a cure-all and should be combined with other allergy management strategies.
Does histamine cause weight gain? ›
Histamine decreases our hunger by, in part, affecting the appetite control center in our brains[2], and it makes sense an antihistamine would have the opposite effect. These drugs can interfere with the “I'm full” signal coming from the rest of our bodies and lead to overeating.
What hormone causes histamine? ›
When your estrogen levels rise, you release more of your own histamine. Histamine then stimulates your ovaries to release more estrogen - thus setting off a vicious cycle. In addition, estrogen stops your DAO from working well. If you are intolerant to histamine, you will not tolerate your own estrogen very well.
What disease releases histamine? ›
People with mastocytosis have an increased risk of developing a severe and life-threatening allergic reaction. This is known as anaphylaxis. The increased risk of anaphylaxis is caused by the abnormally high number of mast cells and their potential to release large amounts of histamine into the blood.
What organ produces histamine? ›
Most histamine in the body is generated in granules in mast cells and in white blood cells (leukocytes) called basophils.
