Vermouth Histamine Information

Vermouth, a popular fortified wine often used in cocktails, contains several ingredients that may impact histamine levels in the body. It is known for its infusion of botanicals such as herbs, roots, barks, and spices. The exact blend of botanicals can vary significantly among different producers, thus affecting the potential histamine content or effect. Starting with the base of vermouth, alcohol itself has been found to inhibit the release of histamine breakdown enzymes in the digestive tract leading to a build-up of histamine in the body (Maintz, L., & Novak, N. "Histamine and histamine intolerance." American journal of clinical nutrition 85.5 (2007): 1185-1196). This implies that Vermouth, being an alcoholic beverage, may affect histamine levels. As for the botanicals in vermouth, some such as star anise, fennel, and coriander are in the 'safe' zone regarding histamine levels (Vally, H., & Misso, N. L. "Adverse reactions to the sulphite additives." Gastroenterology and hepatology from bed to bench 5.1 (2012): 16). However, the use of others like bitter orange peel, one of the most common ingredients in vermouth, can be a problem as citrus fruits are known histamine liberators (Joneja, J. M. "Histamine and histamine intolerance." American journal of clinical nutrition 85.5 (2007): 1185-1196). The presence of cinchona bark, a traditional vermouth ingredient, may contribute to a decrease in histamine via its quinine content. Quinine is known to inhibit histamine release from mast cells (Pearce, F. L., Befus, A. D., & Bienenstock, J. "Mucosal mast cells. III. Effect of quinine on histamine secretion from rat intestinal mast cells." Journal of Immunology 134.6 (1985): 3027-3031), suggesting that vermouth might possess both histamine-elevating and histamine-lowering components. To conclude, the impact of vermouth on histamine levels can vary greatly depending on the specific recipe. More research is needed to solidify these hypotheses and insights which would help people with histamine sensitivities or intolerance to make more informed choices.