Can Histamine Intolerance Be Genetic?

There are some genes that impact histamine intolerance.

So it’s possible your histamine intolerance might be hereditary (or partially so).

It’s a complicated and ever-developing area, so a good bet is getting your genetics done and then consulting with a practitioner.

You can also crunch the data yourself. Trust me I’ve tried. You may find you get bogged down in a sea of MAO, DAO, COMT, and MTHFR (some of the gene mutations implicated in histamine intolerance), but here’s how to do it.

Run your genetics through various sites to get further information. I’ve tried many of them (although more appear all the time.) I suggest Dr. Rhonda Patrick’s Found My Fitness website, and Dr. Ben Lynch’s Strategene site, which provides a full report that includes histamine status.

You can also get a 23andme test (or other provider) to look at your gene profile and understand where you are at in terms of potential genetics and histamine. Check your test provider respects your privacy. You get fun, but mostly useless info such as whether you are a fast coffee metabolizer.

There is one gene I want to go into in a little more detail.

The DAO gene plays a crucial role in histamine intolerance. The DAO (diamine oxidase) enzyme helps to break down histamine in the gut. If you have histamine intolerance, the DAO enzyme may not function properly or may be present in insufficient quantities.

This leads to our old friend, histamine intolerance. The DAO gene encodes the DAO enzyme, and variations in this gene are linked to histamine intolerance.

I am histamine intolerant, but I do not have a variation in the DAO gene. This illustrates the fact that histamine intolerance is a complex condition. The DAO gene is just one of the many factors that can contribute to it.

Conclusion: your best bet is to ask your histamine-knowledgeable practitioner to help you analyze your genetics and decide on a plan.