Ever wondered why that glass of red wine or aged cheese leaves you feeling flushed, itchy, or reaching for the tissues? The culprit might be hiding in your gut, and its name is DAO.

Diamine oxidase, or DAO for short, is the unsung hero in the battle against uncontrolled histamine levels.

Understanding its role in histamine metabolism could be the key to unlocking relief for millions suffering from the wide range of mysterious symptoms associated with histamine intolerance.

The Role of DAO Enzyme in Histamine Intolerance

Histamine belongs to a group of naturally occurring chemicals in your body called biogenic amines.

Its functions range from transmitting messages between nerve cells to controlling the secretion of stomach acid.

It is also involved in immune responses, alerting your body to the possibility of an invasion by foreign substances such as germs, dust, and food particles.

Not only is histamine produced by your body, but it is also found in foods and drinks like aged cheeses, cured meats, certain vegetables, fermented foods, beer, and wine.

Other foods don’t contain histamine but rather stimulate the release of histamine in the digestive system.

Ordinarily, it is degraded once it is no longer needed. However, some people can’t break down histamine.

Such an imbalance between the amount of histamine produced or consumed and the capacity to degrade it results in a condition called histamine intolerance.

Since histamine functions throughout the body, symptoms can range from mild to severe and may include headaches, skin rashes, digestive issues, and in some cases, even asthma-like symptoms or anxiety.

This condition is often misdiagnosed due to its wide array of symptoms that can mimic other disorders.

The DAO Enzyme: Diamine Oxidase

At the heart of histamine intolerance lies a critical enzyme called diamine oxidase (DAO).

This enzyme is predominantly found in the digestive tract and is essential for breaking down histamine in our bodies.

When it’s not functioning properly, the consequences can be far-reaching, ranging from mildly uncomfortable to debilitating, affecting the sufferer’s quality of life.

When DAO levels are low, histamine levels rise, leading to the symptoms associated with histamine intolerance. Indeed, a DAO deficiency is the underlying cause in over 70% of sufferers.

Diagnosing DAO deficiency and histamine intolerance can be challenging. While blood tests for DAO levels exist, they’re not always reliable indicators.

Diagnosis usually involves assessing your symptoms, keeping a food diary, and following an elimination diet to identify your triggers.

Causes of Low DAO Levels

Low DAO levels occur for several reasons. Some people are genetically predisposed, having a specific genetic mutation resulting in the inability to make this important enzyme.

People with inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis often have low levels of DAO.

Other digestive disorders including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), celiac disease (an immune response to eating gluten), and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) can also affect the amount of DAO produced in the gut.

Your medication can also be a problem. Some drugs such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), used to reduce stomach acid production and common painkillers like non-steroidal anti-inflammatories can interfere with DAO production.

Vitamin B6, vitamin C, copper, and zinc are important nutrients for the production and function of the DAO enzyme. Deficiencies of these nutrients can result in a deficiency of DAO.

When you eat a lot of histamine-containing foods and those promoting the release of histamine, the amount of this biogenic amine builds up in your system and can overwhelm the DAO enzyme.

Finally, most alcoholic beverages are high in histamine, adding to your histamine load. To add to the problem, alcohol also inhibits diamine oxidase (DAO), further contributing to histamine intolerance.

Managing Histamine Intolerance Through DAO Support

What can you do if you suspect you have low DAO levels and histamine intolerance?

Now that the condition is better recognized and the underlying mechanisms are beginning to be understood, histamine intolerance can be overcome.

It is managed by addressing the factors contributing to raised histamine levels. Those mentioned below can also help to naturally increase DAO enzyme levels.

• Dietary modifications:

First, avoid high-histamine foods and those triggering the release of histamine to reduce the buildup of histamine in your body. Reducing your histamine load may also improve the function of the diamine oxidase enzyme.

In addition, a fatty acid (oleic acid) found in fats such as olive oil has been shown to increase the amount of DAO produced.

Another fatty acid (arachidonic acid) commonly found in cheese and fatty red meat, significantly increases the release of DAO into the bloodstream. Therefore, balancing your fat intake is essential for maintaining levels of DAO.

Finally, protein stimulates the release of DAO into the gut to prevent the buildup of histamine when the amino acid histidine is converted to histamine during digestion.

• Supplements:

Taking a DAO supplement before meals helps some people prevent symptoms associated with histamine intolerance.

Also important are the nutrients vitamin B6, Vitamin C, copper, and zinc. Not only do they help control inflammation, but they also help to increase levels of DAO.

Low histamine probiotics support a healthy gut microbiome, improving intestinal structure and function and increasing DAO enzyme production.

• Lifestyle changes:

Stress reduction and proper sleep can help control histamine levels and support overall enzyme function.

DAO Enzyme: Critical for Reducing Histamine Load

Understanding the role of the DAO enzyme in histamine intolerance is crucial for managing this often misunderstood condition.

By addressing DAO levels through dietary changes, targeted supplementation, and lifestyle modifications, many people find significant relief from their symptoms.

If you suspect you might be dealing with histamine intolerance, it’s important to work with a knowledgeable healthcare provider to develop a personalized treatment plan.

With the right approach, it’s possible to restore balance and improve your overall quality of life.

The path to wellness might just begin with a tiny enzyme making a big difference in your gut.