13 | id == 13
13 | category_id == 5
13 | category_order == 3
13 | category_name == Inflammation
13 | category_color == #C47AC0
13 | slug == brain-histamine-hnmt
13 | title == Are You Genetically Vulnerable to High Brain Histamine, Migraines, or ADHD? (HNMT)
13 | meta_description == Personalized genetics blog article
13 | summary == <p><strong>Do you struggle with the symptoms of ADHD? Do you frequently have migraines? Poorly functioning histamine-degrading enzymes may cause either or both. Let&rsquo;s dive into your HNMT gene and find out if you&rsquo;re vulnerable.</strong></p>
13 | overall_score_text == Brain Histamine Score (based on HNMT gene)
13 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/Are-You-Genetically-Vulnerable-to-High-Brain-Histamine-Migraines-or-ADHD_JPG.jpg
13 | author_id == 1
13 | author_name == Jasmine Foster
13 | author_title == BSc, BEd
13 | author_order == 36
13 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Jasmine.jpg
13 | author_intro == <p><strong>Jasmine received her BS from McGill University and her BEd from Vancouver Island University.</strong></p>    <p>Jasmine loves helping people understand their brains and bodies, a passion that grew out of her dual background in biology and education. From the chem lab to the classroom, everyone has the right to learn and make informed decisions about their health.</p>
13 | reviewer_id == 2
13 | reviewer_name == Joe Cohen
13 | reviewer_title == BS
13 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
13 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
13 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
13 | publish_date == 2019
13 | publish_date == 8
13 | publish_date == 19
13 | avg_rating == 4.875
13 | tags_id == 30
13 | tags_name == ADHD
13 | tags_id == 23
13 | tags_name == Food Sensitivity
13 | tags_id == 22
13 | tags_name == Histamine Intolerance
13 | tags_id == 21
13 | tags_name == HNMT Gene
13 | tags_id == 31
13 | tags_name == Migraine
13 | permissions_favorite == False
13 | permissions_rate == False
13 | content_article == <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Histamine in the Brain</span></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Histamine is vitally important for brain function: it wakes you up, suppresses appetite, and lets you know when you&rsquo;re thirsty. Brain histamine may also make you feel more curious and motivated. It keeps you alert, helps you prepare for stressful situations, and promotes the formation of memories [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24286351"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3389384/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17241615"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, too much brain histamine can cause serious problems. In this post, we&rsquo;ll explore histamine-N-methyltransferase (HNMT), which breaks down histamine in the brain, and how low HNMT activity can impact your health.</span></p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">How Does the HNMT Gene Cause Problems?</span></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">HNMT codes for histamine-N-methyltransferase, the second major enzyme (</span><a href="../article/histamine-intolerance-11"><span style="font-weight: 400;">after DAO</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">) that breaks down histamine. HNMT is found throughout the body and (perhaps most importantly) in the brain. It deactivates histamine by adding a methyl group [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/3176"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24286351"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Variations in the HNMT gene have been associated with chronic hives and eczema as well as neurological symptoms [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3068859/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20551163"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It's plausible that the HNMT enzyme may be decreased in these conditions, and increasing it may help.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; display: block; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; padding: 20px; background-color: #e8ebfc;">HNMT is the major histamine-degrading enzyme in the brain and much of the body.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">*7474623974580967*</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Histamine and Migraines</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Migraine is a condition that causes excruciating </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/natural-treatment-migraines/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">headaches</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, nausea, intense fatigue, sensitivity to light and sound, and inability to move without </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/23-ways-to-combat-pain-naturally-by-increasing-your-opioids/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">pain</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24433203"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279373/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One possible villain behind these often disabling events is excess brain histamine. In fact, researchers have known for decades that they can induce a </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/natural-treatment-migraines/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">headache</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> just by giving a person enough histamine by mouth; we also know that people who get migraines are more susceptible to histamine headaches than people who don&rsquo;t [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24433203"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28862769"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://thejournalofheadacheandpain.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s10194-019-0984-1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Furthermore, some antihistamines are currently under investigation as future migraine medications. Drugs that activate the </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/histamine/#Receptors"><span style="font-weight: 400;">H3 histamine receptor</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> may have the most potential [</span><a href="https://thejournalofheadacheandpain.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s10194-019-0984-1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; display: block; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; padding: 20px; background-color: #e8ebfc;">Excess brain histamine may cause migraines; people who tend to get migraines are also more sensitive to the effects of histamine in the brain.</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Histamine and ADHD</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">HNMT, as the primary histamine-degrading enzyme in the brain, appears to be linked to ADHD symptoms, but researchers aren&rsquo;t sure exactly how [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6386932/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In one interesting study, increased brain histamine worsened behavioral symptoms in children with ADHD. The children with the AA genotype at </span><a href="../../snp/rs1050891/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs1050891</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> were more likely to have worse symptoms when they were exposed to artificial food colorings and additives (sunset yellow, carmoisine, tartrazine, ponceau 4R, quinoline yellow, Allura red AC, and </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/some-preservatives-block-inflammation-and-autoimmune-disease/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">sodium benzoate</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">) that raise brain histamine [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20551163"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The &lsquo;T&rsquo; allele at rs11558538 is associated with decreased HNMT activity and increased risk of </span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/sarcosine/#1_Sarcosine_Helps_Improve_Schizophrenia"><span style="font-weight: 400;">schizophrenia</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, ADHD, and migraine [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6386932/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Therefore, cases where brain histamine levels are higher, increasing HNMT may help ADHD.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; display: block; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; padding: 20px; background-color: #e8ebfc;">Certain variations in the HNMT gene make children with ADHD more sensitive to the effects of high brain histamine and a variety of food additives.</span></p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Your Histamine Gene Results for Brain Histamine</span></h2> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Important SNPs</span></h3> <p><strong>HNMT rs1050891:</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Normal breakdown of histamine</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Reduced breakdown of histamine, higher brain histamine</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>HNMT rs11558538:</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = Normal breakdown of histamine</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; = Reduced breakdown of histamine, higher brain histamine</span></li> </ul> <p>*5032885239232163*</p> <p>*7474623974580967*</p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Recommendations to Prevent or Manage Histamine Intolerance</span></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you suffer from regular migraines and you suspect that you're intolerant to histamine, talk to your doctor before trying the strategies below. You may even want to bring along your genetic data and discuss these diets and supplements!</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">*9421506275512308*</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">To Increase HNMT Activity</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">S-adenosyl-L-methionine, also known as </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/s-adenosyl-l-methionine/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">SAM-e</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, occurs naturally in your body and donates methyl groups during the </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/what-is-methylation-and-how-does-it-affect-our-health/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">methylation</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> processes. </span><a href="../../gene/hnmt/?utm_source=seo&amp;#38;utm_medium=selfhacked&amp;#38;utm_campaign=id00002"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Histamine N-methyltransferase</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (HMNT) inactivates histamine by methylating it; therefore, SAM-e might help HMNT work more efficiently [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12418493/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/3176"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6386932/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4581600/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">To Prevent Histamine Release</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">People who are susceptible to migraine may benefit the most from a diet low in histamine and histamine-releasing agents. For a complete explanation of how the low histamine diet works and whether you should try it, </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/low-histamine-diet/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">check out this post</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10779289"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4604636/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you&rsquo;re looking for a supplement that targets histamine in the brain, you might want to try </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/theanine/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">theanine</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, an amino acid found in green and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/theaflavins/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">black tea</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Theanine crosses the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which means that it may be more effective at targeting brain histamine than other natural antihistamines [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21344174"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18296328"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15704209"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9566605"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Most of the strategies for managing histamine intolerance prevent histamine from being either produced (</span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/histidine/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">histidine</span></a><a href="../../gene/hdc/?utm_source=seo&amp;#38;utm_medium=selfhacked&amp;#38;utm_campaign=id00002"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> decarboxylase</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> inhibitors) or released (mast cell stabilizers). Over on SelfHacked, we&rsquo;ve compiled a comprehensive list of supplements and lifestyle options that can help; </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/natural-antihistamines/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">check out this post to see them all</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It&rsquo;s also a good idea to reduce the amount of histamine you consume in your food. </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/low-histamine-diet/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">This post</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> explains how to make the most of a low-histamine diet. For a dive into which foods are high and low in histamine, </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/foods-high-low-in-histamine/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">check out this post</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Also, remember to speak with your physician before starting on any new supplement regimen.&nbsp;</span></p>
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13 | content_learn_more_7474623974580967_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your HNMT gene is working well, decreasing your risk of high brain histamine. If you’re having problems with inflammation, this enzyme is probably not the culprits.
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rsIDs = rs1050891,rs11558538
rsStatus = rs1050891,HNMT,chr2,138014190,A,G,,,19,9,HET
rsStatus = rs11558538,HNMT,chr2,138002079,C,T,,,13,10,HET
