Link Between Allergies And IBS

Over the last couple of weeks I've read several articles on the link between allergies, asthma and IBS (aka Irritable bowel syndrome).  It confirmed that it's not just food allergies or food intolerances it's also all those other types of allergies such as environmental and eczema that can cause symptoms.

I know that I 've noticed especially over the last several years that when my allergies get really bad so do my IBS symptoms. By far the most overwhelmingly noticeable symptom for me is nausea, so it's definitely nice to have my own suspicions confirmed.

 

So how does this all work?  Well it has a lot to do with histamine, which is described by Wikipeda as, "

an organic nitrogenous compound involved in local immune responses, as well as regulating physiological function in the gut and acting as a neurotransmitter for the brain, spinal cord, and uterus. Histamine is involved in the inflammatory response and has a central role as a mediator of itching."

Histamine isn't just stored in our sinuses and lungs it's also in our GI tract. So when we have a reaction to an external source such as pollen or we ingest a food containing histamine it begins a specific process. This process includes the widening of blood vessels and the stimulation of acid production in the stomach. 

So along with histamine are bodies also produce an enzyme called DOA (aka diamine oxidase).  This enzyme is responsible for breaking down the histamine from the foods that we eat.  If your body becomes deficient in DOA you can't break down the histamine. 

Poor digestion and some gastrointestinal disorders and even some medications can prevent or block DOA production.  While bacterial overgrowth can cause increased histamine production and certain foods can affect both DOA and histamine levels.

To much histamine from food sources can be filtered through the gut wall and eventually end up in the blood stream. This can then cause a range of allergic symptoms as well as anxiety, fatigue and irregularities in the menstrual cycle. 

So basically when a build up of histamine occurs it can trigger IBS symptoms such as pain, nausea and diarrhea on top of allergy symptoms. It's also interesting to note that both allergies and IBS are linked to inflammation.

There are numerous studies so I will only give a couple of examples, but they are interesting and give a better understanding of the links. One of these studies has shown that "20% - 60% of IBS patients attribute their symptoms to adverse food reactions. Those same studies show that those who experience atopic allergies "are more than 3 times more likely to have IBS."*  

At the Rush University Medical Centre in Chicago** studies are showing that allergies can lead to IBS and the cases of IBS that were studied were specifically linked to allergic rhinitis and eczema. It also found that childhood allergic eczema was frequently accompanied with food allergies and gastrointestinal disfunction.

Studies are ongoing and so far treatments are somewhat limited, but a careful diet along with allergy medication are often recommended as treatments. While there is still more to learn what has been learned so far can help us not only to understand but to help ourselves.

I've included a list of some foods below that relate to histamine and DOA. 

Foods that are high in histamine.

- fermented foods and beverages, alcohol

- dairy products

- dried fruits

- aged cheese

- spinach, avocados, eggplants

- processed and smoked meats, shellfish

- coffee

- vinegar

- canned meat and fish

Foods that trigger histamine release:

- food dyes and additives

- nuts especially walnuts, peanuts, cashews

- citrus fruit, bananas, papayas

- alcohol, chocolate

-tomatoes

- beans

- wheat germ

Food that block DOA production:

-alcohol

- energy drinks

- black tea, green tea

Foods low in histamine:

-fresh meat and fish

- fresh vegetables (except spinach, avocado, eggplant)

- coconut milk, almond milk (dairy substitutes)

- gluten free grains including rice

- eggs

- citrus free fruits

- cooking oils

Histamine blockers:

-ginger

- apples, blueberries

- onions

- parsley

- olive oil

- foods containing high amounts of vitamin C. 

Sources:  

1.  *lacrosseallergy.com/why-the-la-crosse-method/treating-allergy-conditions/irritable-bowel-syndrome/#:~:text=Environmental%20allergies%20can%20certainly%20cause,certain%20times%20of%20the%20year.

2. **medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=87209

3. avogel.co.uk/health/digestive-system/ibs/can-ibs-be-made-worse-by-allergies/

4. healthline.com/health/histamine-intolerance

5. rootfunctionalmedicine.com/anti-histamine-foods/

6.karger.com/Article/FullText/503629