UPDATED 3/13/2024
Original blog was updated to reflect the new Histamine Digest PureMAX formulation and bottle image; HDU (histamine digesting units) in Histamine Digest PureMAX increased to 40,000 from 30,000 per capsule.
DAO (Diamine Oxidase) is the enzyme that neutralizes histamine in the digestive tract. Taking the enzyme prior to eating high histamine foods and beverages helps the body break down the histamines.
Research supports that this can be extremely helpful for people with histamine intolerance and can help manage unpleasant GI or other symptoms.
People who have difficulty balancing histamine levels in their body or histamine intolerance (also known as HIT) might get annoying reactions like stuffy nose, red eyes, itchy skin or hives.
Other common symptoms are gastric hypersecretion manifested with stomach pain (especially when eating), diarrhea, nausea and migraines.
Two Formulations of Histamine Digest Are Available on my Website Now:
Original Histamine Digest and Histamine Digest PureMAX
How do you know which DAO supplement is best?
Histamine Digest PureMAX is designed for those with multiple sensitivities and higher Diamine Oxidase (DAO) needs. The Histamine Digest PureMAX capsule only contains DAO; it does not contain Vitamin C or Catalase enzyme (found in the regular Histamine Digest). Very sensitive individuals who react to these additional ingredients can benefit from Histamine Digest PureMAX.
While the vast majority of my clients do very well with the original Histamine Digest, having the pure form of DAO (PureMAX) is a great option.
Comparing Histamine Digest and Histamine Digest PureMAX
- 30,000 HDU/4.2 mg (Histamine Digesting Units)
- Contains Vitamin C and Catalase (breaks down hydrogen peroxide).
- Other ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose, vegetarian capsule (hypromellose, gellan gum), silicon dioxide (silica)
- 60 or 120 count
- 40,000 HDU/4.8 mg (Histamine Digesting Units)
- Now with 40,000 HDU, due to advancements in the extraction and manufacturing process.
- Other ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose, vegetarian capsule (hypromellose, gellan gum)
- 60 count
Histamine Digest and Histamine Digest PureMAX
DO NOT contain: wheat, gluten, yeast, soy, dairy products, fish, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, ingredients derived from genetically modified organisms (GMOs), artificial colors, artificial sweeteners, or artificial preservatives.
Research Shows Diamine Oxidase Supplementation Improves Symptoms in Patients with Histamine Intolerance
“All symptoms improved significantly during the [4 week] oral supplementation of DAO. During the follow-up period, without DAO supplementation, the symptoms sum scores increased again. The symptom intensity score was reduced for all symptoms. We have demonstrated, a significant reduction of every HIT-related symptom and its intensity due to DAO oral supplements.” — Read the full study.
A second study also concluded that people who exhibited a histamine intolerance, the majority of whom had lower serum DAO levels, benefited from DAO supplementation.
Excerpt:
Intolerance to various foods, excluding bona fide coeliac disease and lactose intolerance, represents a growing cause of patient visits to allergy clinics. Histamine intolerance is a long-known, multifaceted clinical condition triggered by histamine-rich foods and alcohol and/or by drugs that liberate histamine or block diamine oxidase (DAO), the main enzyme involved in the metabolism of ingested histamine. Histamine limitation diets impose complex, non-standardized restrictions that may severely impact the quality of life of patients.
We found that 10 out of 14 patients had serum DAO activity<10 U/mL, which was the threshold suggested as a cutoff for probable histamine intolerance.
Moreover, 13 out of 14 patients subjectively reported a benefit in at least one of the disturbances related to food intolerances following diamine oxidase supplementation.
Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2016 Mar;29(1):105-11. doi: 10.1177/0394632015617170. Epub 2015 Nov 16., Manzotti G, Breda D, Di Gioacchino M, Burastero SE
Doesn’t the Body Make DAO Naturally?
Yes, your body naturally makes the DAO enzyme in your intestinal mucosa cells.
However, you can have low DAO enzyme activity for many reasons, including poor gut health and inflammatory GI diseases that affect the integrity of the gut lining.
Typically as we age, we also naturally make less DAO.
Both Histamine Digest and Histamine Digest PureMAX DAO supplements are designed to boost DAO levels in the body.
