As many women approach menopause, they often notice changes in their body that can feel confusing or unexpected. One issue that may arise during this time is histamine intolerance, a condition where the body struggles to break down histamine, a naturally occurring compound involved in various bodily functions.
Histamine intolerance is particularly significant for some women during menopause due to the close link between hormones, especially oestrogen, and histamine levels.
At Essex Menopause Clinic, we aim to shed light on how hormonal changes during perimenopause and menopause can exacerbate histamine intolerance, and what steps you can take to manage these symptoms.
What is Histamine?
Histamine is a chemical mediator produced by your body that plays a key role in your immune system, gut health, and as a neurotransmitter. While histamine is well known for its role in allergic reactions, it also regulates various other functions, including blood flow, digestion, and inflammatory responses.
Normally, your body breaks down histamine using enzymes like diamine oxidase (DAO). However, when histamine builds up due to factors such as reduced enzyme activity or increased production, it can cause symptoms ranging from headaches and digestive problems to skin rashes and respiratory issues. This is referred to as histamine intolerance.
Hormonal Changes in Menopause and Histamine Intolerance
Histamine intolerance can become a particular issue during menopause due to the complex relationship between histamine and oestrogen. As women move through the stages of perimenopause and menopause, oestrogen levels fluctuate, and this directly affects histamine levels.
The Vicious Cycle of Oestrogen and Histamine
Oestrogen and histamine are closely linked, creating a feedback loop that can exacerbate histamine intolerance. Here’s how it works:
1. Oestrogen stimulates histamine release: As oestrogen levels rise, they cause an increase in histamine release. This is part of the body’s natural response to oestrogen.
2. Histamine triggers more oestrogen release: Histamine itself can stimulate the ovaries to produce even more oestrogen, creating a cycle where both histamine and oestrogen levels continue to rise.
3. Oestrogen inhibits DAO: High levels of oestrogen can inhibit the activity of diamine oxidase (DAO), the enzyme responsible for breaking down histamine. This means that as oestrogen rises, not only does histamine increase, but your body’s ability to break it down diminishes.
This cycle is why many women with histamine intolerance may find that their symptoms worsen at certain points in their hormonal cycle, particularly during times when oestrogen levels are high, such as during their teens, around menstruation, and during perimenopause.
Histamine Intolerance and Menopausal Symptoms
The symptoms of histamine intolerance can mimic those of menopause, which can make diagnosis challenging. Common symptoms of histamine intolerance include:
• Headaches or migraines
• Diarrhoea and digestive discomfort
• Skin rashes or flushing
• Nasal congestion
• Itching or hives
• Low blood pressure or heart palpitations
For women going through perimenopause or menopause, these symptoms can overlap with the typical symptoms of hormonal changes, such as hot flushes, low mood, anxiety, and changes in the menstrual cycle.
Women with histamine intolerance may notice that their symptoms flare up when their oestrogen levels are higher, such as during certain points in their cycle or when starting hormone replacement therapy (HRT). This can create confusion as it’s difficult to differentiate between menopausal symptoms and those caused by histamine intolerance.
The Role of Pregnancy and Histamine
Interestingly, many women with histamine intolerance find that their symptoms improve during pregnancy. This is because, although oestrogen levels are high during pregnancy, the body produces around 500 times more DAO than usual, which helps break down histamine more efficiently. This is a crucial point in understanding histamine intolerance and hormonal interactions—it shows that histamine intolerance is not just about histamine levels, but also about how well the body can break it down.
For women entering menopause, where DAO production is not similarly boosted, histamine intolerance can become more pronounced as oestrogen levels fluctuate.
Managing Histamine Intolerance in Menopause
Managing histamine intolerance during menopause can be tricky due to the interplay between hormonal fluctuations and histamine metabolism. However, there are several strategies that can help alleviate symptoms and restore balance:
1. Body Identical HRT
For women who need hormone replacement therapy (HRT), it’s essential to opt for body identical HRT, which closely mimics the natural hormones your body produces. This can reduce the risk of exacerbating histamine intolerance symptoms compared to synthetic hormones. At Essex Menopause Clinic, we carefully consider your hormonal needs and how they interact with conditions like histamine intolerance to ensure that HRT is both effective and well-tolerated.
2. Low-Histamine Diet
A low-histamine diet is a key element in managing histamine intolerance. Reducing the intake of foods high in histamine can help prevent symptoms from flaring. Foods to avoid include:
• Alcohol (wine, beer, champagne)
• Aged cheeses, processed meats, and fermented foods
• Certain vegetables (e.g., tomatoes, spinach, aubergines)
• Shellfish and certain types of fish (e.g., tuna, mackerel)
• Tropical fruits (e.g., bananas, pineapples, citrus fruits)
By carefully monitoring your diet, you can help manage both histamine intolerance and menopausal symptoms more effectively.
3. Monitoring DAO and Histamine Levels
Although tests for DAO and histamine levels are not definitive diagnostic tools, they can offer insight into your histamine metabolism. At Essex Menopause Clinic, we may check your DAO and histamine levels to help identify whether histamine intolerance is contributing to your symptoms. However, the gold standard for diagnosis remains dietary modification.
4. Supporting Gut Health
Gut health plays a significant role in histamine production. Ensuring that your digestive system is functioning optimally can help reduce histamine levels. Probiotics, a balanced diet, and addressing any underlying gut issues are crucial steps in managing histamine intolerance during menopause.
Histamine Intolerance Clinic
The relationship between menopause, oestrogen, and histamine intolerance can be complex, but understanding the connection can help you manage your symptoms more effectively. At Essex Menopause Clinic, we are committed to providing personalised care that addresses both hormonal changes and histamine intolerance.
If you suspect that histamine intolerance may be playing a role in your menopausal symptoms, we’re here to help. From body identical HRT to dietary adjustments and gut health support, our clinic offers a holistic approach to menopause care that takes into account the unique challenges of histamine intolerance.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you manage your menopause journey with greater ease and comfort.
Our Histamine Intolerance clinic is led by Dr Eleanor Beddoe, with menopause expertise provided by Dr Alice Scott.
