The Overlooked Link Between Histamine Intolerance and Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, affects millions of people worldwide and is marked by long-term inflammation in the digestive tract.

While genetics, immune system issues, and environmental triggers are well-known causes, researchers are now studying a less familiar factor: histamine intolerance (HIT).

Histamine intolerance affects about 1% of people, most often middle-aged adults. Because histamine influences digestion, immunity, and inflammation, problems with how the body breaks it down could impact gut health and connect with conditions like IBD.

This article explains what histamine intolerance is, its symptoms, foods that play a role, and the growing research linking HIT with IBD.

What is Histamine Intolerance?

Histamine intolerance is often compared to lactose intolerance. Just as lactose intolerance happens when the body lacks enough lactase enzyme, histamine intolerance occurs when the body doesn’t make enough diamine oxidase (DAO). This main enzyme breaks down histamine in the gut.

DAO is found in the small intestine and normally prevents excess histamine from entering the bloodstream. If DAO activity is too low, histamine builds up, causing a range of symptoms.

Symptoms of Histamine Intolerance

Symptoms are wide-ranging and often overlap with other gut or immune conditions, making HIT hard to diagnose. Common signs include:

• Bloating and stomach discomfort

• Feeling too full after meals

• Stomach pain or cramps

• Headaches or migraines

• Skin flushing, hives, or nasal congestion

Causes can vary. Some people have genetic changes that reduce DAO activity. For others, medications like antibiotics, antidepressants, or anti-inflammatory drugs may block DAO. Gut or inflammatory diseases can also reduce DAO production.

Foods High in Histamine

Histamine is naturally found in the body but also in many foods. Levels depend on storage, fermentation, and freshness. Foods high in histamine include:

• Fermented foods (sauerkraut, soy sauce, kimchi, kombucha)

• Cured meats (salami, bacon, ham)

• Fish (especially if not fresh)

• Aged cheeses

• Alcohol (wine, beer)

• Some fruits and vegetables (tomatoes, spinach, avocados, citrus)

Because histamine content varies, following a low-histamine diet can be difficult and may lead to nutrient gaps if not carefully managed.

The Connection Between HIT and IBD

IBD and histamine intolerance are separate conditions, but studies suggest that poor histamine breakdown may worsen gut inflammation in IBD.

• Histamine and inflammation: Too much histamine can overstimulate the immune system and increase inflammation, which also drives IBD.

• DAO and gut lining: Low DAO levels may weaken the intestinal barrier, making the gut more “leaky” and prone to inflammation.

• Research evidence:

• Patients with IBD have higher histamine levels in gut tissue.

• DAO activity is lower in IBD patients compared to healthy controls.

• Even patients with ulcerative colitis without small intestine disease show reduced DAO activity.

These findings suggest histamine metabolism problems are common in IBD.

Can DAO Supplements Help?

Some studies show DAO supplements can ease symptoms of histamine intolerance:

• One study found improved digestion in HIT patients after DAO supplementation.

• Another reported fewer headaches and gut issues.

• A third noted overall symptom relief.

These studies weren’t specific to IBD, but the overlap suggests DAO support could be explored as part of gut health strategies.

Challenges and Considerations

Despite these findings, caution is needed before making firm conclusions.

• IBD complexity: Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis involve multiple factors, and histamine is only one piece of the puzzle.

• Dietary limits: Cutting out histamine-rich foods can be restrictive and risky without proper planning.

• Need for research: More large-scale studies are needed to confirm how much HIT impacts IBD and whether supplements truly help.

Future Directions in Research

Histamine has many different jobs in the gut. It’s not just something we get from food; it also works as a messenger between nerve cells, helps control stomach acid, and plays a part in inflammation. 

Because of these multiple roles, understanding how histamine connects with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may lead to new treatment options.

Future research could focus on:

• Checking if blood levels of DAO can be used as a marker of gut health.

• Studying whether DAO supplements may help certain groups of IBD patients.

• Looking at how gut bacteria, which also affect histamine levels, influence the course of IBD.

Managing Histamine and IBD with Curated Wellness

Histamine intolerance and IBD may not seem connected, but both involve problems with inflammation and gut barriers. Low DAO activity and poor histamine metabolism may play a role in worsening IBD.

While more studies are needed, managing histamine levels is a practical step toward better digestive health. For people with IBD, limiting high-histamine foods, supporting DAO activity, and considering targeted supplements could be helpful alongside medical care.

For reliable supplement options and expert guidance, Curated Wellness offers a members-only store with practitioner-approved products and virtual nutrition consultations tailored to individual needs.

Top Recommended Products for Histamine Intolerance and IBD Support:

Histamine Scavenger - Professional Health Products

Histamine Scavenger is a unique formulation used to help the body clear itself of excess histamine. Histamine is a compound which is released by cells in response to injury and in allergic and inflammatory reactions, causing contraction of smooth muscle and dilation of capillaries. Histamine can be generated from acute or chronic inflammation and has many unpleasant downstream effects on the body.

Histamine Digest Puremax - Omne Diem

Many foods contain histamine and/or cause the release of histamine in the gut. Diamine Oxidase (DAO) is the primary enzyme responsible for the breakdown of dietary histamine. Omne Diem™ Histamine Digest PureMAX delivers natural-source DAO in a designed-release capsule that dissolves in the small intestine, where it acts directly on dietary histamine to support digestive health and comfort.

 

HistDAO Histamine - XYMOGEN

HistDAO™ provides a concentrated source of diamine oxidase (DAO)—the main enzyme responsible for the degradation of ingested histamine. This formula delivers the clinically researched dose of DAO in an easy-to-swallow, gastro-resistant mini-tablet, which is essential for releasing DAO in the small intestine, where it breaks down food-derived histamine.