Weight gain due to a histamine intolerance

Weight gain due to histamine intolerance alone is rather unusual. Histamine intolerance triggers various gastrointestinal complaints such as flatulence, stomach pain, increased stool frequency and diarrhoea. Especially through the diarrhea one loses a lot of fluid and there is a temporary tendency to lose weight through the loss of fluid.

Depression due to a histamine intolerance

There is a correlation between histamine intolerance and mood swings, as well as depressive mood swings. Increased fatigue and exhaustion can occur. If the histamine intolerance causes sleep disturbances at the same time, mood swings can occur, which can also be of a depressive nature.

Further symptoms can also be increased nervousness and confusion. Especially before the drug therapy of depression, the suspicion of a histamine intolerance should be clarified. Drugs such as amitryptilin, which is a frequently used preparation, lead to an inhibition of diaminooxidase (DAO) in the body. Instead of improving the depressive symptoms, the further increase in histamine can also lead to a worsening.

Histamine intolerance due to alcohol

Histamine is found in food that has been fermented by bacteria. This includes beer and red wine. They are both extremely incompatible for people who have a histamine intolerance.

In red wine, the histamine content depends on the degree of ripeness. Better tolerated is dry white wine or sparkling wine. Nevertheless, one should be careful when drinking alcohol, because not only the histamine in the alcoholic beverage can cause problems.

Alcohol also leads to the release of the body’s own histamine. At the same time the intestinal wall becomes more permeable due to the alcohol, so that more histamine can be absorbed. The enzyme diaminooxidase (DAO), which is not present in sufficient quantities in the case of histamine intolerance, is additionally inhibited by the alcohol.

As a result, the histamine can hardly be broken down and the typical symptoms develop. These symptoms can also be more pronounced when alcohol is consumed because the blood vessels are dilated by the alcohol. This promotes the blood circulation and contributes to the intensification of symptoms. Caution is also required with alcoholic mixed drinks. Here the additives may also contain significant amounts of histamine.