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Clinical nutrition

Histamine-reduced diet and increase of serum diamine oxidase correlating to diet compliance in histamine intolerance

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Abstract

Diagnosis of histamine intolerance (HIT) has been based on low serum diamine oxidase (DAO) values, functional gastrointestinal disorders and improvement of symptoms with a histamine-reduced diet (HRD). In a retrospective analysis of outpatients’ charts we identified 101 patients with HIT. After a median of 13 months, a questionnaire was distributed to the patients so that they could be classified into four diet-compliance groups. Calculated with all 101 patients we found an increase of serum DAO values due to a HRD. In the 63 patients that completed the questionnaire, we found that 50 patients had improvement of symptoms or no continuing symptoms. A significant increase of serum DAO levels was found in the patients with strict and occasional diet compliance. Therefore, we demonstrate that a HRD is not only improving symptoms in HIT, but is causing an increase in serum DAO values that correlates with the degree of diet compliance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Immunology and Pathophysiology, Otto Loewi Research Center, Medical University of Graz, Heinrichstrasse 31a, A-8010, Graz, Austria

    Sonja Lackner, Verena Malcher & Sandra J. Holasek

  2. Institute of Laboratory Medicine, General Hospital Steyr, Sierninger Straße 170, A-4400, Steyr, Austria

    Dietmar Enko

  3. Clinical Institute of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnosis, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 30, A-8036, Graz, Austria

    Harald Mangge

  4. Practice for General Internal Medicine, Dr. Theodor Körnerstrasse 19b, A-8600, Bruck, Austria

    Wolfgang J. Schnedl

Authors
  1. Sonja Lackner
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  2. Verena Malcher
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  3. Dietmar Enko
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  4. Harald Mangge
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  5. Sandra J. Holasek
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  6. Wolfgang J. Schnedl
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wolfgang J. Schnedl.

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Conflict of interest

Wolfgang J. Schnedl received speaking honoraria from Sciotec. Remaining authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Parts of this study were used by Dr. Verena Malcher to fulfill the requirements for obtaining the degree “Dr. med.” at Medical University in Graz, Austria

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Lackner, S., Malcher, V., Enko, D. et al. Histamine-reduced diet and increase of serum diamine oxidase correlating to diet compliance in histamine intolerance. Eur J Clin Nutr 73, 102–104 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-018-0260-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-018-0260-5

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