L-Histidine is an essential amino acid that cannot be formed by other nutrients, and must be in the diet to be available to the body. Most often recognized as a precursor to the allergy symptom producing hormone histamine, both histidine and histamine have essential roles in the body beyond tormenting allergy sufferers. Histamine is well known for its role in stimulating the inflammatory response of skin and mucous membranes such as those found in the nose - this action is essential in the protection of these barriers during infection. Histamine also stimulates the secretion of the digestive enzyme gastrin. Without adequate histamine production healthy digestion can become impaired. Without adequate L-histidine stores, the body cannot maintain adequate histamine levels. Less well known is that L-histidine is required by the body to regulate and utilize essential trace minerals such as copper, zinc, iron, manganese and molybdenum.
L-histidine is essential in forming many metal bearing enzymes and compounds, examples being the antioxidant super oxide dismutase, the iron storage protein ferritin, the iron uptake regulation protein -FUR, the copper storage and iron metabolism cofactor ceruloplasmin, red blood cell hemoglobin, the toxic metal storage protein metallothionein, and the cysteine regulating enzyme cysteine dioxygenase - to name but a few important enzymes dependent on L-histidine being available for formation and function.

Persons contaminated with heavy metals, suffering from chronic seasonal allergies, or following a low histidine diet are most susceptible to body depletion of adequate histidine stores - creating the possibility of mineral-enzyme deficiencies and dysregulation. Depletion of body stores of L-histidine might be best recognized by dysfunction of L-histidine dependent compounds, and low blood plasma concentrations of the amino acid. High blood serum levels of iron have been experimentally caused in humans by a diet low in L-Histidine.

Intolerance of sulfur bearing foods like garlic and broccoli along with elevated blood plasma L-cysteine levels indicate inactivation of the L-Histidine and iron dependent enzyme cysteine dioxygenase.As with most free form amino acids, L-histidine absorption is best when taken between meals without food and without accompanying minerals.

What is Histidine ?
L-histidine is an essential amino acid. Most of our histidine must come from our diets, but small amounts can be synthesized from glutamic acid & carnosine. Histidine helps support normal healthy inflammatory response. It helps support lubricating fluid in the joints.

Histidine can convert to histamine, which is a major neurotransmitter in your brain & throughout parts of your nervous system. However, histidine intake does not always increase brain histamine, Low brain histamine levels are associated with hyperactivity, mania, paranoia, hallucinations, & abnormal thoughts. Many brain functions of histamine are poorly understood but it is thought to participate in the secretion of 2 hormones, (prolactin & antidiuretic). It is thought to aid temperature regulation & be involved in the control of automatic nerve response in the central nervous system.

Vitamin E deficiency will cause the depletion of histidine from muscles. Histidine is involved with the regulation of zinc levels in your body. If zinc is excessive it will lower histidine; if histidine is excessive it will decrease zinc levels. But appropriate levels of histidine enhance zinc levels.

Histidine:

Where it is found
Histidine can be obtained in a variety of foods, including beans, brewer's yeast, brown rice bran, caseinate, dairy products, eggs, fish, lactalbumin, legumes, meat, nuts, seafood, seeds, soy, whey, whole grains. Dairy, meat and poultry, and fish are good sources of histidine.

Benefits / uses
L- histidine is most often recognized as a precursor to the allergy symptom producing hormone histamine, both histidine and histamine have essential roles in our biochemistry. Histamine is well known for its role in stimulating the inflammatory response of skin and mucous membranes such as those that we experience when we have cold or flu symptoms. The inflammatory action of histamine is essential for the protection of these barriers during an acute infection.

L-histidine is required by the body to regulate and utilize the following processes: