The Link Between Irritable Bowel Syndrome And Allergies

 I've been looking a little more into the link between allergies, asthma and Irritable bowel syndrome (or IBS for short).  It confirmed that it's not just food allergies or food intolerances that can cause symptoms, but also all those other types of allergies including environmental, seasonal allergies and eczema.   Over the last several years I've definitely noticed that when my allergies get bad so do my IBS symptoms so it's nice to have my own suspicions confirmed.

So how is this all linked?  

Well, it has everything to do with histamine, you know that pesky chemical that causes all our allergy symptoms.  Wikipedia describes it 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."

But guess what, histamine isn't just stored in our sinuses and lungs it's also in our GI tract. 

When we have a reaction to an external source like 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. 

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

Some medications, poor digestion and gastrointestinal disorders can prevent or block DOA production.  

Bacterial overgrowth can also 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 result in 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 in the body it can trigger IBS symptoms such as pain, nausea and diarrhea on top of any allergy symptoms. 

There are numerous studies so I'll just go over a couple of examples, but I found them interesting and they help to 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.

***  "Research has also implicated certain immune cells, known as mast cells, in the development of IBS. Mast cells are involved with allergies because they release the histamine chemical into the bloodstream. This process results in sneezing, congestion, and other symptoms – including hives and itchy rashes. It’s reasoned that the hypersensitivity and hyperreactivity associated with mast cells trigger changes to the gut.”

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

Below are a few lists related to Histamine and DOA you might find helpful. 

Foods that are high in histamine.

- fermented foods and beverages

-  alcohol

- dairy products

- dried fruits

- aged cheese

- spinach, avocados, eggplants

- mushrooms

- legumes

- processed and smoked meats, shellfish, bone broth

- coffee

- vinegar

- canned meat and fish

- processed foods

Foods that can trigger histamine release:

- food dyes and additives

- nuts especially walnuts, peanuts, cashews

- citrus fruit, bananas, papayas

- alcohol

- chocolate (Dark chocolate is the safest option of all the chocolate types)

- tomatoes

- beans

- wheat germ

Food that block DOA production:

- alcohol

- energy drinks

- black tea

- green tea

Medications that block DOA: 

- gastrointestinal medication

- narcotics

- antibiotics

- antidepressants

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

- herbal tea

Histamine blockers:

- ginger

- apples, blueberries

- onions

- parsley

- olive oil

- foods containing high amounts of vitamin C. 

Foods and vitamins that help to get rid of histamines:

- Increase intake of Vitamin B6 or foods containing B6 like Chicken and potatoes.

- Increase intake of Vitamin C and foods containing Vitamin C like fruits and vegetables.

- Increase intake of Copper or foods containing copper such as asparagus.

Sources:  

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

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

***atgastro.com/connection-between-atopic-dermatitis-and-ibs-brooklyn/

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

healthline.com/health/histamine-intolerance

rootfunctionalmedicine.com/anti-histamine-foods/

karger.com/Article/FullText/503629

drwillcole.com/functional-medicine/functional-medicine-histamine-intolerance-symptoms