ProBiota HistaminX contains probiotic species that have been carefully selected to exclude those that are known to increase histamine in the gut. The histamine-friendly species included in this formula are delivered in a delayed-release (acid resistant) capsule to ensure that the probiotics are delivered intact to the lower digestive tract. This formula helps to support the body's microbiome and healthy digestion, and may help support healthy metabolism of ingested histamine.*

Histamine, a part of the body's biological defence system, is also found in many common dietary sources: fermented foods, fish, meat, cheese, vinegar, alcohol, and some fruits and vegetables. Other foods contain histidine, which is converted to histamine during digestion by certain bacteria in the gut. At healthy levels and in the right places, histamine is needed for a normal digestive process and sleep-wake cycle, and for a functioning immune system. On the other hand, too much histamine can cause unpleasant side effects like rashes, itching, stuffy nose, swelling, headache and gastrointestinal complaints.*

Each person's level of sensitivity to histamine in food depends on the amount of histamine present and the effectiveness of the body's natural histamine-metabolizing mechanisms. It may seem like the only way to avoid the unpleasant side effects of histamine sensitivity is to eliminate high-histamine foods altogether, but such a restricted diet can deprive the body of balanced nutrition and make it difficult to enjoy meals. A healthy gut is a key factor in normal histamine metabolism and healthy histamine levels throughout the body.*

Cells in the gut produce DAO (diamine oxidase), an enzyme that breaks down histamine in the digestive tract. In healthy individuals, DAO is responsible for keeping the majority of ingested histamine from ever reaching circulation in the body. A healthy gut microbiome containing a balanced variety of "good" bacteria (i.e. probiotics) is essential for maintaining a healthy gut barrier, and healthy cells in the gut barrier are needed to maintain normal DAO levels.*

The bacteria that make up the microbiome in the human gut serve many specialized purposes. It is thought that selectively supplementing the populations of certain probiotic species can alter the levels of fermentation end-products in the gut and support specific health goals. While it is true that certain bacteria found in a healthy gut are responsible for converting histidine to histamine, which can be problematic in individuals with histamine intolerance, others may help to break down histamine and other biogenic amines and reinforce a healthy gut barrier. This can be of special interest for those with histamine sensitivity or intolerance, as increased intestinal permeability can allow more of the ingested histamine to pass from the gut into circulation. ProBiota HistaminX contains only probiotic species that are considered "histamine-friendly" and excludes those known to produce histamine in the gut.*