Introduction to the first edition of Tao & Dao Magazine

Cristina Aguiar
7 de jun.
3 min de leitura

Atualizado: 23 de jun.

Scientific literature reveals surprising statistics, which demonstrate the underdiagnosis and overlap of histamine sensitivity with other syndromes.

The global prevalence of food hypersensitivity

Non-allergic food hypersensitivity, commonly known as food intolerance, affects between 1% and 6% of the global population. This range demonstrates the variation in estimates in medical literature, as the condition often mimics other disorders and its true occurrence remains uncertain due to the lack of standardised diagnostic criteria.

According to the review by researchers Laura Maintz and Natalija Novak [¹], approximately 1% of the population presents this condition. On the other hand, the study conducted by Ying Zhao and her collaborators [²] reports a higher prevalence, situated between 3% and 6%. The Brazilian Association of Allergy and Immunology [³] ratifies this more recent statistic, and highlights that histamine sensitivity - also called enteral histaminosis - is more frequent in children. Furthermore, researcher Pooja Toshniwal Paharia [⁴] observes that there is a higher recorded incidence among women.

To introduce the fixed sections of Tao & Dao Magazine: “Symptoms”, “Diagnostic Support” and “Balance”, we propose seven topics that serve as examples to unravel such complexity.

1) Migraine and headaches

In the field of neurology, studies indicate that 87% of people diagnosed with migraine present a deficiency in the activity of the DAO enzyme, according to a study published in the journal Clinical Nutrition ^[5].

2) ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

Regarding attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a revealing statistic demonstrates that 82% of diagnosed people have a high prevalence of DAO enzyme deficiency, according to research released in the Journal of Clinical Medicine ^[6].

3) Gastrointestinal problems and IBS

For gastrointestinal problems and “Irritable Bowel Syndrome” (IBS), research shows that 80% of people identify food as direct triggers for their symptoms, according to a study published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology ^[7].

[Figure 2] ASBAI, 2024.

4) Fibromyalgia

Science indicates that about 75% of women suffering from fibromyalgia have a genetic deficiency of the DAO enzyme, and present at least one genetic variant associated with difficulty in degrading histamine, according to the journal Biomedicines^[8].

5) Overlap with malabsorption (lactose/fructose)

Regarding the overlap with lactose and fructose malabsorption, histamine sensitivity rarely acts alone, being present in 38% of people diagnosed with lactose intolerance and in 36.9% of cases with carbohydrate malabsorption, according to research from the Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology ^[9].

6) Children and abdominal pain

In paediatrics, about 8% of children who report chronic abdominal pain associated with the consumption of histamine-source foods present reduced concentrations of the DAO enzyme in the blood, according to the study conducted by Karl Hoffmann and collaborators published in 2013 and validated in the review published in the journal Nutrients in 2021 ^[10].

7) The "clinical chameleon" in practice

The manifestation of the clinical chameleon in practice reveals that the systems most affected are the gastrointestinal and the neurological in 83% of cases of people diagnosed with sensitivity, followed by dermatological complaints in 50% and respiratory problems in 33%, according to the journal Intestinal Research ^[11].