What does a DAO enzyme supplement have to do with histamine? A lot!  

DAO is short for diamine oxidase. This enzyme is mostly made in your gut. And it’s one of the main paths that help break down histamine in your body. 

If you have Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) or Histamine Intolerance (HIT) you likely already know about histamine issues! But some people experience symptoms and don’t realize it’s a histamine problem. We’ll talk more about symptoms in a moment.

Histamine isn’t the bad guy, though. Histamines are an important part of the way your body normally functions. 

Your body makes histamines to help with: 

• Digestion
• Immune function 
• Sleep / wake cycles 
• And more!  

But having more histamine than your body can break down is a problem. That’s Histamine Intolerance. 

Think of your histamine levels like a bucket or a sink. Sometimes, the faucet is open just a little, dripping into the sink. But sometimes it’s on all the way and fills up quickly.  

And everybody’s histamine sink:  

• Has a different capacity  
• Drains at different rates  
• Fills differently  

And when histamine builds up until your sink overflows, all kinds of uncomfortable symptoms can develop. 

A few ways this excess histamine can show up in different body systems are:  

• Nervous system and brain issues 
  • Brain fog  
  • Headaches / migraines 
  • Anxiety 
• Gut (gastrointestinal) issues 
  • Diarrhea 
  • Bloating 
  • Reflux 
• Respiratory issues 
  • Runny nose  
  • Congestion 
  • Asthma 
• Skin issues
  • Rashes or hives  
  • Flushing   
  • Itching 

Now, other things can cause some of these symptoms, too. So, it’s important to work with your practitioner to rule other problems out.

But when it’s Histamine Intolerance, these symptoms are your body’s way of telling you there is too much histamine. There is a gap between the amount of histamine in your body and the amount you can break down.   

Let’s take a quick look at why that may happen next.   

Why You May Need More DAO 

It’s important you know that this blog post is for informational and educational purposes. It’s not meant to treat any health condition or to be prescriptive for anyone. Always be sure to work with your healthcare practitioner.    

Histamine levels rise and fall throughout the day.  

Some of this histamine buildup you have control over, like avoiding high histamine foods. But some of it, you don’t like the amount of pollen in the air, catching a cold, or your body’s natural rhythms.   

And if you have MCAS, your mast cells can release a lot of histamine, too. 

Those are some things that may be adding to high levels of histamine. 

You have 2 main pathways to break down histamine:

• HNMT (Histamine N-methyltransferase) in your blood and tissues
• DAO (diamine oxidase) in your gut

And there are many reasons your DAO may be low: 

• Genetics – certain genetics may lead to trouble breaking down histamine and lower DAO production 
• Gut inflammation or Leaky Gut 
• Nutrient deficiencies 
  • B6
  • Copper  
  • Magnesium  
  • Vitamin C  
  • Zinc 
• Mold Toxins 
• And more 

So, how do you address this imbalance in histamine?  

Antihistamines can help alleviate symptoms by blocking histamine receptors. But the histamine is still there. And your body still has to break it down.  

Dietary supplements like quercetin can help by preventing some of the histamine release. 

Related Post: Health Benefits of Quercetin (Plus the Best Quercetin Supplements for Histamine Intolerance and MCAS)

And a low histamine diet can be helpful by not adding as much histamine. But most people need more than just a low histamine diet. Plus, you want to keep or eventually add more nutrient rich foods in your diet to support your health! 

This is where a DAO enzyme supplement can really help with histamines. Let’s look at that next.  

Why Use DAO for Histamine Intolerance 

You might resonate with this story from Beth, one of our founders. 

“In my 20s, I was oblivious to how the healthy, histamine-rich foods I loved like fermented veggies, bone broth, shellfish, spinach, and dark chocolate were fueling my Histamine Intolerance.    

My health was a mess with: 

• Relentless itching
• Constant post-nasal drip 
• Frequent diarrhea 
• Severe acid reflux 
• Debilitating fatigue 
• Worsening sleep issues and Insomnia
• Food intolerances and food sensitivities 

After realizing certain foods were making me feel worse, I started avoiding those foods. But my diet became more and more limited. Does that sound familiar? 

I knew that wasn’t good. 

It took me years to figure out what was happening and reverse it! But I did.  

Discovering diamine oxidase (DAO) enzyme supplements was part of that breakthrough. This enzyme helped lower my histamine load and, along with other supports, slowly allowed me to reintroduce a wide variety of foods back into my diet.  

These days I tolerate far more histamine. I can even eat about half a pound of strawberries!” 

So, naturally, we began recommending DAO supplements to clients, too.  

But not all DAO is created equal.  Let’s look at what you want to watch for next.

What to Look for in DAO Supplements 

There are several diamine oxidase (DAO) supplements on the market. So, how do you know which one is right for you? 

Well, there are a few things you want to watch out for like fillers and additives, or warehouses that aren’t temperature controlled.  

And you need to know that most DAO supplements are made from porcine kidney extract (pork). Some people need or prefer a vegetarian option like NaturaDAO. 

And when Steven Wright from Healthy Gut reached out to tell us he was formulating a DAO product, we were all ears.  

Our whole team has used and recommended many of his products like HCL Guard+, Tributyrin-X (butyrate), and HoloZyme (digestive enzymes) as part of our gut health stabilization for years now. And we see great results both for ourselves and our clients!  

Related Post: Enzymes, Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFA’s), and Gut Health in SIBO, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, and Histamine Intolerance

He’s a knowledgeable friend and collaborator that we trust to get to the root of gut issues. 
 
So, if you are curious about the activity of DAO and what makes HistaHarmony special, watch our discussion with Steven Wright to learn about: 

• Who benefits from taking DAO  
• DAO and its role in histamine breakdown  
• Understanding histamine triggers  
• Types of dosing and when you see improvements 
• Advantages of HistaHarmony DAO 
• Why you may want this in your toolbox even if you DON’T have MCAS or HIT 

HistaHarmony: What Makes This DAO a Good Choice with MCAS

Steven Wright knows how sensitive our community is. So, he asked for Beth’s input when he was researching and creating this new DAO. 

And Steven’s expertise has made HistaHarmony one of the best DAO enzyme supplements on the market! 

What makes HistaHarmony DAO stand out: 

• High-Potency DAO – contains a high concentration of the enzyme diamine oxidase (DAO) to help break down histamine in the digestive tract. 
• Enhanced Delivery – uses enteric-coated tablets to ensure the enzyme reaches the small intestine where it is most effective. 
• Proprietary Technology – special patented enzyme-preserving technology and nitrogen-packed packaging for maximum potency. DAO oxidizes easily with exposure. 
• Backed by Patents – features DAO backed by 96 patents. 
• Formulated with our sensitive community in mind – no additives, fillers, or dairy. Gluten free and non GMO. 

>>> Click here to shop for HistaHarmony DAO  

More Mast Cell Supporting Supplements for MCAS

• Perilla Seed Extract: What to Know with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome and Histamine Intolerance
• Health Benefits of Quercetin (Plus the Best Quercetin Supplements for Histamine Intolerance and MCAS)
• Low Histamine Vitamin C
• Will Vitamin D help or hurt you if you have Mast Cell Activation Syndrome or Histamine Intolerance?

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References 

Hrubisko, M. (2021). Histamine Intolerance—The More We Know the Less We Know. A Review. Nutrients, 13(7), 2228. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13072228  

Izquierdo-Casas, et al. (2019). Diamine oxidase (DAO) supplement reduces headache in episodic migraine patients with DAO deficiency: A randomized double-blind trial. Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland), 38(1), 152–158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2018.01.013 

Maintz, L,. & Novak, N. (2007). Histamine and histamine intolerance. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 85(5), 1185-1196. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/85.5.1185   

Patel, R. H., & Mohiuddin, S. S. (2023, May 1). Biochemistry, histamine. StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557790/ 

Peuhkuri, K., Vapaatalo, H., & Korpela, R. (2010). Even low-grade inflammation impacts on small intestinal function. World journal of gastroenterology, 16(9), 1057–1062. https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v16.i9.1057  

Schnedl, W. J., et al. (2019). Diamine oxidase supplementation improves symptoms in patients with histamine intolerance. Food Science and Biotechnology, 28(6), 1779–1784. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10068-019-00627-3 

Thakkar, M. M. (2011). Histamine in the regulation of wakefulness. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 15(1), 65–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2010.06.004