Vitamin D’s impact on histamine

Those with seasonal allergy symptoms can experience sneezing, itchy mouth, eyes and rashes etc which are due to high levels of histamine. Though histamine’s role in impacting the immune systems function is well known not many are aware of the connection between Vitamin D and histamine.

Most of us are aware of the importance of Vitamin D for bone health but it also plays a key role in histamine metabolism (breaking down).

How it does this is by regulating the enzymes resposible for histamine breakdown and synthesis which means it plays a crucial role in the regulation of histamine levels within the body. Interestingly histamine mediated inflammation has a similar impact on Vitamin D’s activities within the body creating a feedback loop.

So what happens if you have low vitamin D? It can increase your chances of experiencing allergic symptoms such as rhinitis, sinusitis and asthma.

Optimising your Vitamin D levels can be an easy way to regulate your histamine levels.

What can you do?

• Get some vitamin D outside with some skin uncovered.

  • Summer and Spring (UV Index is 3 or above)

    • Limit time spent outdoors unprotected between 9:30-4:30pm. A few minutes mid-morning or mid-afternoon most days of the week.

  • Winter and Autumn (UV Index is 3 or below)

    • 30 minutes in the middle of a cloudy day most days of the week.

• Increase high vitamin D foods such as fatty fish (salmon, mackerol), eggs, mushrooms and yoghurt.

• Check and monitor your vitamin D levels via a blood test.