Soda Histamine Information

Eating soda, or baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), does not incorporate in the direct consumption of histamine. However, it doesn't mean that it does not interfere with histamine levels in the body. It may not possess inherent histamine content nor is it a histamine liberator, but its usage can indirectly influence histamine levels. Histamine, a naturally occurring biochemical in the body, plays an important role in gastric acid production. Sodium bicarbonate, a key acid neutralizer can potentially minimize the need for increased gastrin, a hormone that stimulates the production of gastric acid which subsequently provokes histamine release[^1^]. Therefore, while no direct correlation is reported between eating sodium bicarbonate and histamine levels, it may exert an influence through this indirect manner. Considering the foods mentioned such as red wine, cheese, processed meats, and fermented foods, these are known to have high histamine content[^2^]. The extended fermentation or aging processes contribute to the extensive histamine build-up[^3^]. Foods like cocoa products, nuts, and alcohol disrupt histamine metabolism - they delay its breakdown, leading to an accumulation in the body[^4^]. Certain foods like strawberries, citrus fruits, and seafood, although not inherently containing histamine, can instigate its release from the body’s cells[^5^]. These are considered as histamine liberators. Unfortunately, currently, there is insufficient research about how eating soda affects histamine levels directly or if it modifies the effect of these other foods on histamine levels in any way. Our team is working hard on this. Data will be available soon. [^1^]: Waldum HL, Arnestad JS, Brenna E, Eide I, Syversen U, Sandvik AK. "Long-term effects of histamine and sodium bicarbonate on gastric secretion of histamine in totally isolated, vascularly perfused rat stomach." Scand J Gastroenterol. 1996 Apr;31(4):321-8. doi: 10.3109/00365529609031929. PMID: 8726300. [^2^]: Maintz, Laura, and Natalija Novak. “Histamine and histamine intolerance.” The American journal of clinical nutrition vol. 85,5 (2007): 1185-96. doi:10.1093/ajcn/85.5.1185 [^3^]: Vlieg-Boerstra BJ, van der Heide S, Oude Elberink JN, Kluin-Nelemans JC, Dubois AE. "Mastocytosis and adverse reactions to biogenic amines and histamine-releasing foods: what is the evidence?" Neth J Med. 2005 Jul-Aug;63(7):244-9. PMID: 16079689. [^4^]: Izquierdo-Casas, J., Comas-Basté, O., Latorre-Moratalla, M. L., Lorente-Gascón, M., Duelo, A., Soler-Singla, L., & Vidal-Carou, M. C. (2018). Histamine Intolerance and Dietary Management: A Complete Review. Allergies, 3(4), 54. [^5^]: Reese I, Ballmer-Weber B, Beyer K, Fuchs T, Kleine-Tebbe J, Klimek L, Lepp U, Niggemann B, Saloga J, Schäfer C, Werfel T, Zuberbier T, Worm M. "German guideline for the management of adverse reactions to ingested histamine: Guideline of the German Society for Allergology and Clinical Immunology (DGAKI), the German Society for Pediatric Allergology and Environmental Medicine (GPA), the German Association of Allergologists (AeDA), and the Swiss Society for Allergology and Immunology (SGAI)." Allergo J Int. 2017;26(2):72-79. doi: 10.1007/s40629-017-0011-5. PMID: 28529483; PMCID: PMC5349611.