Food allergy versus food intolerance
Itchy skin rash type rash is one of the common reasons that bring the patient to the allergist. Not always eruptions that occur after eating certain foods signals an allergy, often induced discomfort is the result of food intolerances.
Intolerance causes are many, some are simply secondary content substances in food, others are caused by enzyme deficiencies (eg lactose intolerance, diaminooxidaza deficit, deficit fructozo-1-phosphate aldolaza, etc.) or any pain chronic patient (suffering bile, chronic pancreatitis, chronic intestinal distress).
Clinical manifestations of food intolerance is not just the rash, may associate headache, dizziness, abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation contrary, difficulty breathing, sneezing, nasal blockage, hypotension, panic attack-like symptoms, etc.. The range of symptoms is sometimes difficult to recognize causes.
If clinically manifestations of food intolerance can be confused with allergies, their growth mechanisms are completely different:
• Allergic reactions is an inappropriate response, hyperreactive, the immune system at each meeting with a food allergen can trigger on very small amounts of allergen.
• Instead intolerance reactions are the result of inability of the digestive system to digest certain food principles and severity of symptoms depends on the amount of food ingested.
A situation of food intolerance is the phenomena labeled histamine intolerance syndrome secondary diaminooxidaza deficit. Histamine is the main mediator released by immune system cells during an allergic reaction and is one of the main substances responsible for inducing any of the symptoms of allergy.
On the other hand there are many foods naturally high in histamine or histamine release in the body capable of this is how the same food can cause allergy-like symptoms without the intervention of the immune system. Diaminooxidaza (DAO) is an enzyme produced mainly in the gut of utmost importance in the metabolism of histamine.
Patients with low levels of activity diaminooxidazei genetic reasons or acquired secondary to pain (eg inflammatory bowel disease) may react inappropriately to histamine-containing food consumption because it can degrade the entire amount ingested or released histamine in the body. Some foods may inhibit even diaminooxidazei activity.
There are some drugs that interfere with DAO (eg iodinated contrast substances, some anesthetics, pain medication, symptomatic cough, some antibiotics, etc.). So histamine intolerance is the result of an imbalance between the amount of histamine released ingested and diaminooxidazei ability to degrade it.
Diagnosed as histamine intolerance?
Historical data suggests link between certain symptoms and consumption of food. Dosage activity diaminooxidazei serum and plasma histamine or its metabolites through laboratory methods help to clarify the causes of symptoms suggestive of histamine intolerance. It also required the exclusion of real food allergies through allergy skin tests and other tests available.
Diagnosed as histamine intolerance?
Historical data suggests link between certain symptoms and consumption of food. Dosage activity diaminooxidazei serum and plasma histamine or its metabolites through laboratory methods help to clarify the causes of symptoms suggestive of histamine intolerance. It also required the exclusion of real food allergies through allergy skin tests and other tests available.
Treatment histamine intolerance syndrome deficiency diaminooxidaza
A logical consequence is to eliminate from your diet foods high histamine-containing foods and replacing them with other equivalent nutritional value.
Food groups to avoid:
- alcoholic beverages
- seasoned food preparations (eg cheese)
- preparations over
- Fruit and vegetable seeds
- citrus
- chocolate, cocoa, coffee
- nuts, black tea, green tea
Because of the potential for intolerance reactions taking drugs that interfere with DAO, their use should also be avoided or require the simultaneous use of specialized treatments. The combination antihistamine therapy can bring additional benefits but does not affect the DAO. Doctors provide prescription drugs required as emergency kit, different depending on the severity of symptoms experienced by the patient.
Vitamin C and B6, cofactors of diaminooxidazei, may be useful. For several years could be studied the effect of enzyme supplementation diaminooxidaza by administering an extract of the complete diet measures, helping to histamine degradation excess charge of intolerance symptoms described above. Not recommended food intolerance diagnosis based only on clinical picture. Refer to GP and specialist doctors in case of any signs of intolerance. Investigations allow differentiation causes allergy symptoms. Doctors may recommend treatment measures and proper diet.