Chicken Livers Histamine Information

Consuming chicken livers may have a potential impact on histamine levels due to its histamine content. Chicken liver is a type of offal and some types of offal like liver, kidney, and heart are known to be high in histamine. In specific, offal such as liver, according to SIGHI (Swiss Interest Group Histamine Intolerance), can have very high levels of histamine if they're stored improperly or for extended periods. Fresh chicken livers are typically lower in histamine, but storage, preparation, and individual histamine sensitivity may yield different results for different individuals (1). Additionally, chicken liver is high in protein and amino acids, which can indirectly influence histamine levels. Proteins can be broken down into amino acids, including histidine. Histidine can conversely be converted to histamine in the body (2). Though it doesn't directly translate that eating more protein or histidine necessarily increases histamine, it can theoretically elevate body histamine levels or slow the histamine breakdown process if other elements are present (3). One of the ingredients typically used alongside chicken liver recipes like paté is alcohol, which is also categorized as a substance that can delay histamine breakdown. Therefore, the combination of chicken liver and alcohol could increase the histamine burden in the body further (4). In conclusion, consumption of chicken livers could potentially increase histamine levels due to their inherent histamine content, especially when not fresh and coupled with ingredients like alcohol. However, it's important to note that individual reactions may vary and the ways bodies process histamine are complex. Some people might not experience any histamine-related symptoms from consuming chicken livers, depending mainly on their personal histamine tolerance and the freshness of the meat. References: 1. SIGHI - Swiss Interest Group Histamine Intolerance, Histamine potential of foods and additives 2. Maintz L., Novak N., Histamine and histamine intolerance, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 85, Issue 5, May 2007, Pages 1185–1196 3. Joneja, J. M., & Carmona-Silva, C., Outcome of a supervised elimination diet for Histamine Intolerance (HIT), Medical Sciences, 2017. 4. Kimura, Y., Takahashi, K., Takeuchi, Y., Watanabe, M., Takimoto, H., & A single sip of alcohol can increase postprandial histamine in plasma after a histamine-rich meal, Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 2021.