Combat DAO Deficit with DAOSin
Before we start with our article this week, we want to wish you a very happy holiday season.
We are not living in easy times, but we are faithful believers that together we will overcome this difficult time.
That said, we proceed to present our article today with one of the most requested topics by you and that is DAO (DiAmino Oxidase) deficiency.
We take advantage of the opportunity because during the holidays more foods with high histamine levels are consumed.
Let’s start from the beginning
Histamine is a protein that belongs to the so-called biogenic amines and is present in many foods that we consume on a regular basis, as well as inside our cells.
The intake of histamine through meals does not cause any type of alteration or problem, since it is processed and metabolized quickly by the DAO.
DiAminoOxidase belongs to the group of amino oxidase enzymes that contain copper.
These enzymes deaminate primary amines into the corresponding aldehydes, ammonia, and hydrogen peroxide through oxidation.
Human DAO preferentially degrades histamine and various polyamines such as putrescine or spermidine. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-78134-3
Histamine belongs to the group of so-called biogenic amines
Humans have three functional genes that encode amines oxidases that contain copper.
The product of the AOC1 gene is the so-called human DiAminoOxidase (hDAO), named for its substrate preference for diamines, particularly histamine.
The problem arises in some patients when there is an imbalance between histamine intake through food and a deficit in correct degradation through the detoxification systems at the intestinal and hepatic level.
This causes an exaggerated increase in levels in our body with the consequent adverse effects.
The presence of excess histamine is usually due to a deficiency or inactivity of the DiAminoOxidase enzyme and therefore there is an alteration in the metabolism of food histamine.
In people with low DiAminoOxidase activity, there is a risk of suffering an alteration known as food histaminosis or histamine intolerance.
What is DAO deficiency?
DAO deficiency is when there is a deficit in the amount or decrease in the activity of the metabolizing enzyme.
The situation may also arise due to an imbalance between the histamine ingested with food and the ability to metabolize it by this enzyme.
The true mechanism of histamine intolerance is under investigation, but it is known to be related to excessive histamine accumulation.
Histamine intolerance originates when there is an imbalance between the accumulation of histamine in the blood and the body’s ability to degrade it.
In a healthy individual, histamine is regularly broken down with the help of two enzymes: DAO and HNMT.
The mechanism of histamine intolerance is thought to be due to the presence of a genetic or acquired dysfunction in one of these two enzymes.
The DAO enzyme, which is most often linked to this deficiency disorder, is produced in the gut, so if bowel function is compromised, there may not be enough enzyme to break down histamine normally.
As there is an increased amount, histamine is not metabolized or degraded correctly, so it manages to penetrate through the intestinal cells, passing into the bloodstream and triggering the different symptoms.
What foods contain histamine?
Unlike a food allergy, where there is an increased presence of immunoglobulin E, in DAO deficiency, the appearance of symptoms is not linked to the consumption of a specific food, but can be associated with a wide range of foods containing different levels of histamine.
Histamine, unlike allergy, is associated with accumulation due to the consumption of a wide range of foods containing histamine levels
In some people, symptoms may even appear after the consumption of products with low levels of histamine, which raises doubts and further studies should be carried out to confirm any other affectation.
The histamine content of foods varies depending on their storage time, ripeness, cooking and/or processing.
Certain foods that do not contain high levels of histamine are rich in compounds known as “histamine releasers” that can trigger similar symptoms.
Histamine is present to a greater or lesser extent in all foods, whether of animal or vegetable origin.
Foods that undergo a long maturation or that are stored for an extended period of time, have a particularly high content of histamine and other biogenic amines that are also degraded by the DAO enzyme.
Foods with higher histamine content include, for example:
- Milk in its most varied forms, whether raw, pasteurized and dairy products.
Aged cheeses such as blue, parmesan, gouda or cheddar cheese deserve a separate chapter.
In the case of cheese histaminosis, a differential diagnosis should be made with lactose intolerance. - Citrus fruits, strawberries and bananas.
- Seafood and fresh oily fish.
- Canned, fermented, or smoked fish, such as sardines, mackerel, herring, and tuna.
- Pickled foods such as sauerkraut and pickled pickles.
- Raw sausages, such as chorizo, bacon or fuet.
- Chocolate in all its forms, cinnamon and soy sauce.
- Some vegetables, such as tomatoes, spinach or aubergines.
- Alcoholic beverages, especially red wine, beer and sparkling wines.
It should be clarified that alcoholic beverages in general contain histamine and other biogenic amines in different measures, but alcohol inhibits the activity of the DAO enzyme per se, thus preventing the metabolization and subsequent degradation of histamine. - Other DAO inhibitors such as black and green tea.
- Histamine releasers: citrus fruits, papaya, pineapple, walnuts, strawberries, egg whites and some additives such as monosodium glutamate.
The moment when the problem appears
When a buildup of histamine occurs, symptoms appear.
A decrease in the production of the DAO enzyme may be why histamine intolerance appears to be more common in people who have gastrointestinal disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, and intestinal bacterial overgrowth.
The production of the DAO enzyme can also be inhibited by certain medications.
When there is a DAO deficiency, the most common adverse reactions are:
- Digestive disorders, such as bloating, flatulence, constipation, or diarrhea.
- Muscle pain and contractures and osteopathic pain.
- Skin disorders, such as dry or atopic skin.
- Headache.
- Non-allergic rhinitis.
- Tinnitus.
How does DAOSin® work?
The DiAminoOxidase contained in DAOSin® complements the body’s own enzyme, which is responsible for metabolizing histamine.
It is essential to take DAOSin® before a meal.
By the time histamine-containing foods reach the intestine, the capsule should have already dissolved and the DAO enzyme it contains should be active.
DAOSin® is a food for special medical purposes that is used in the dietary management of DiAminoOxidase (DAO) enzyme deficiency.
For cases of histamine intolerance.
By taking one capsule of DAOSin® before each meal, the amount of DAO in the small intestine is increased and thus the ability to degrade histamine.
This accelerates the processing in the digestive tract of histamine present in food, which is the trigger for symptoms.
Take one capsule with a little water before a meal containing histamine.
The maximum daily dose is 3 capsules (corresponding to three histamine-containing meals).
The contents of the capsule should not be chewed but swallowed whole, so that the active substance passes intact from the stomach to the intestine.
If you have trouble swallowing the capsule, you can open it and swallow the contents with a little water.
It should not be crushed or chewed.
Other sources of study
The International DAO Deficiency Society is based in Spain and its website reports that some recent studies reveal a close relationship between migraine and gastrointestinal disorders, such as celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity, as we mentioned in a previous paragraph.
In a study that we found on their website, the hypothesis is proposed that in the pathogenesis of migraine, low DAO activity in serum is related to celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2020.109738
Conclusion
Although some doctors still question whether histamine intolerance is really a disease, in Europe it is more widely accepted as a true condition.
In 2012, the German Society for Allergology and Clinical Immunology recognized it as a true disease whose pathophysiology has not yet been determined.
DAOSin® is a food for special medical purposes that is used in the dietary management of DiAminoOxidase (DAO) enzyme deficiency.
For cases of histamine intolerance.
DAOSin® is available in the following presentations:
We hope to meet again next year with more news, product reviews and more tips to improve your quality of life.
A big greeting!
