Benzoic acid and hippuric acid are formed from the bacterial metabolism of polyphenols. Urinary benzoic acid may also come from ingestion of food preservatives such as sodium benzoate. Hippuric acid is made when sodium benzoate is conjugated with glycine.

→ Benzoic acid is metabolized to hippuric acid and excreted.

→ Hippuric acid is a normal urinary metabolite associated with microbial degradation of certain dietary components.

→ Levels of hippuric acid rise with the consumption of fruit juice, tea, and wine, which are converted to benzoic acid.

→ Though a defect in the enzymatic conjugation of benzoic to hippuric acid has been noted in Crohn’s disease patients, research implicates altered gut microbial metabolism as the cause of decreased hippuric acid.

→ Other research has found a positive association between Clostridia spp. and hippuric acid levels.

→ Hippuric acid has been positively associated with gut diversity.

→ If elevated, evaluate benzoic acid and glycine levels. Support with glycine if needed.

Benzoic acid and hippuric acid are formed from the bacterial metabolism of polyphenols. Urinary benzoic acid may also come from ingestion of food preservatives such as sodium benzoate. Hippuric acid is made when sodium benzoate is conjugated with glycine.

Microbes resident in the large intestine of the human body help to break down complex aromatic compounds in dietary plant matter (polyphenols), freeing up benzoic acid, which enters the bloodstream. The liver can add the amino acid glycine to benzoic acid to form hippuric acid, which re-enters the blood and is absorbed by the kidneys. As a result, the kidneys excrete hundreds of milligrams of hippuric acid into the urine every day.

Histamine is a compound that affects immune response and physiological function of the digestive tract, and also acts as a neurotransmitter.

Histamine helps control the sleep-wake cycle as well as energy and motivation.

Histamine is a compound that affects immune response and physiological function of the digestive tract, and also acts as a neurotransmitter.

Histamine helps control the sleep-wake cycle as well as energy and motivation.

Histamine plays a dual role in the body as a neurotransmitter and a modulator of the immune system. Histamine has anti-pain properties, plays a neuroprotective role in the brain, and contributes to optimal maintenance of cognition and memory. Histamine stimulates wakefulness and decreases sleep, stimulates gastric acid production, increases metabolism, suppresses appetite, and prevents weight gain. Histamine is a potent vasodilator and a pro-inflammatory agent.

Histamine is an excitatory neurotransmitter involved in the sleep/wake cycle and inflammatory response. Histamine plays a dual role in the body as both a neurotransmitter and immunomodulator increasing metabolism, promoting wakefulness, attention, circadian rhythms, learning, and memory.

Maintaining a proper balance of histamine is crucial for individuals with allergic and gastrointestinal symptoms. Both excessively high and low levels of histamine can lead to health issues. Histamine was initially identified for its role in anaphylactic allergies, where exposure to specific allergens triggers mast cell degranulation and the release of histamine. This can result in severe, life-threatening reactions.

When the gut barrier is compromised, it increases vulnerability to food antigens, toxins, and harmful microbes. This condition, often referred to as "leaky gut," weakens the body's defenses and leads to inflammation. Common symptoms of elevated histamine include rapid heart rate (tachycardia), headaches, flushing, hives (urticaria), itching (pruritis), low blood pressure (hypotension), bronchospasm, and in severe cases, cardiac arrest.

This test measures the amount of histamine in the blood.

Histamine is a substance that is released from specialized cells called mast cells when they are activated, often as part of an allergic immune response.

Histamine can be produced in the gut and travel to distant areas of the body, where it may induce unfavorable symptoms. Patients with an overabundance of histamine-producing bacteria should focus on strengthening intestinal barrier function, as a leaky gut can allow gut derived histamines to enter circulation and promote dietary intolerances or disruption in healthy allergic responses. High levels of gut derived histamine are associated with high abundance of Proteobacteria, Roseburia, Morganii morganii, and Klebsiella pneumoniae and decreased abundance of Bifidobacterium.

Chronic Urticaria (CU) is a common skin disorder affecting 1 to 6% of the general population.

Useful for evaluating for diseases of immediate hypersensitivity or mast cell proliferation (mastocytosis). Histamine is one of the major mediators of allergic reactions. Some carcinoid tumors, particularly of gastric origin, produce and release excessive histamine. Symptoms of flushing, itching, urticaria, vomiting, syncope or shock assumed to be due to histamine release, which coincides with increased urine of plasma levels. Systemic mastocytosis or basophilia can produce persistent elevations in plasma or urine histamine concentrations.

Histamine is a substance that is produced by the body as part of an allergic reaction.

Histidine is a semi-essential amino acid which is formed in the breakdown of carnosine. Red meat is a common source of carnosine, and therefore histadine. Other food sources include poultry, fish, nuts, seeds, and grains. Histidine and histamine have a unique relationship. The amino acid histadine becomes histamine via a vitamin B6- dependent enzyme called histidine decarboxylase. 

Histidine is a semi-essential amino acid which is formed in the breakdown of carnosine. Red meat is a common source of carnosine, and therefore histadine. 

Other food sources include poultry, fish, nuts, seeds, and grains. Histidine and histamine have a unique relationship. The amino acid histadine becomes histamine via a vitamin B6- dependent enzyme called histidine decarboxylase. 

With this, decreased amounts of histidine and insufficient vitamin B6 can subsequently lead to a decrease in histamine concentration. This may impair digestion, since histamine binds to H2 receptors located on the surface of parietal cells to stimulate gastric acid secretion, necessary for protein breakdown.

Histidine also inhibits the production of proinflammatory cytokines by monocytes and is therefore anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. 

With these beneficial effects, histidine supplementation has been shown to improve insulin resistance, reduce BMI, suppress inflammation, and lower oxidative stress in obese women with metabolic syndrome. 

Interestingly, histadine can also be broken down to form urocanic acid in the liver and skin. Urocanic acid absorbs UV light and is thought to act as a natural sunscreen.

Histidine is a semi-essential amino acid which is formed in the breakdown of carnosine. Red meat is a common source of carnosine, and therefore histadine. Other food sources include poultry, fish, nuts, seeds, and grains. Histidine and histamine have a unique relationship. The amino acid histadine becomes histamine via a vitamin B6- dependent enzyme called histidine decarboxylase. 

Histidine is a semi-essential amino acid which is formed in the breakdown of carnosine. Red meat is a common source of carnosine, and therefore histadine. 

Other food sources include poultry, fish, nuts, seeds, and grains. Histidine and histamine have a unique relationship. The amino acid histadine becomes histamine via a vitamin B6- dependent enzyme called histidine decarboxylase. 

With this, decreased amounts of histidine and insufficient vitamin B6 can subsequently lead to a decrease in histamine concentration. This may impair digestion, since histamine binds to H2 receptors located on the surface of parietal cells to stimulate gastric acid secretion, necessary for protein breakdown.

Histidine also inhibits the production of proinflammatory cytokines by monocytes and is therefore anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. 

With these beneficial effects, histidine supplementation has been shown to improve insulin resistance, reduce BMI, suppress inflammation, and lower oxidative stress in obese women with metabolic syndrome. 

Interestingly, histadine can also be broken down to form urocanic acid in the liver and skin. Urocanic acid absorbs UV light and is thought to act as a natural sunscreen.