THE USE OF LOW HISTAMINE DIET – A REVIEW

Karolina Domosud; Gabriela Makulec; Damian Zienkiewicz; Julia Maria Kostro; Dorota Kacprzyk; Lizaveta Novik; Maciej Jakub  Kozicki; Anna Libera; Karolina Bartkiewicz; Zofia Jędra

doi:10.31435/ijitss.1(49).2026.5122

Authors

Karolina Domosud Wojskowy Instytut Medyczny, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4345-2188
Gabriela Makulec Wojskowy Instytut Medyczny, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1357-1340
Damian Zienkiewicz Szpital Praski pw. Przemienia Pańskiego, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7263-1545
Julia Maria Kostro Stefan Żeromski Specialist Hospital, Kraków, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3455-2825
Dorota Kacprzyk Szpital Specjalistyczny im. F. Ceynowy, Wejherowo, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0004-6402-8376
Lizaveta Novik Medical University of Warsaw (WUM), Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2181-2284
Maciej Jakub Kozicki Medical University of Warsaw (WUM), Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-1966-0306
Anna Libera Wojewódzki Szpital Zespolony w Kielcach, Kielce, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6806-3014
Karolina Bartkiewicz Medical University of Warsaw (WUM), Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0009-3082-7272
Zofia Jędra Samodzielny Publiczny Szpital Kliniczny im. prof. W. Orłowskiego CMKP, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5449-9546

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.1(49).2026.5122

Keywords:

Histamine, Low-Histamine Diet, Antihistamine Diet, Histamine-Containing Foods, Histamine-Rich Food

Abstract

Introduction: Histamine is a biologically active amine involved in inflammatory, immunological, neurological, and gastrointestinal processes. Impaired degradation of histamine, may lead to histamine intolerance and multisystem symptoms. The low-histamine diet is interesting strategy as a non-pharmacological recommendation for managing histamine-related disorders.

Background: There are many disorders which symptoms may be associated with the level of histamine, for instance: chronic spontaneous urticaria, inflammatory bowel disease, recurrent headaches, gastrointestinal manifestations in hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos syndrome, and anaphylaxis-like reactions. Although dietary histamine restriction is frequently recommended, the consistency between online dietary advice and scientific evidence could be misleading.

Methods: Scientific articles adressing the use of low-histamine diet were identified through an analysis of databases. Secondly, five publicly accessible websites identified through search phrases related to the low-histamine diet were analyzed. Afterwards, five scientific studies from literature databases were reviewed to compare publicly accessible information to recommendations in scientific articles from literature databases.

Key findings: Analyzed articles suggest that impaired histamine degradation can result in multisystem symptoms, which may improve after implication dietary histamine restriction. The analysis of low-histamine diet recommendations revealed inconsistencies between internet-based information and literature from scientific databases.

Conclusions: A low-histamine diet may provide clinical benefit in selected patients with histamine-related disorders. However, dietary recommendations are often inconsistent with scientific evidence. Implementation of the diet should be individualized and evidence-based. Further studies could be beneficial to establish clear and standardized dietary guidelines for histamine related conditions.

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