Yogurt Histamine Information

Yogurt has long been touted for its health benefits due to its rich probiotic content. However, its impact on histamine levels is a topic of ongoing research. While yogurt indeed contains histamine, the levels vary depending on the strain of bacteria used in its production. Some products might also be histamine liberators, meaning they stimulate the release of histamine in the body, further increasing the overall level. Specifically, certain lactic acid bacteria, often found in fermented foods like yogurt, have the potential to produce histamine during fermentation. For instance, Lactobacillus delbrueckii and Lactobacillus bulgaricus, commonly used in yogurt making, could generate histamine during fermentation (Zhang et al., 2020). However, different yogurt brands and types use varying bacteria strains, so histamine content can differ. There's also research indicating that fermented foods like yogurt might have a net lowering effect on histamine levels due to their high probiotic content. These probiotics could potentially degrade histamine in the gut, thereby reducing overall histamine levels (Thomas et al., 2012). It's crucial to note that individual histamine tolerance varies. For those with histamine intolerance, consuming high-histamine foods like yogurt, or histamine liberators, could trigger symptoms. Yet, for others, the potentially probiotic-induced histamine reduction might outweigh the initial histamine content of the yogurt. In conclusion, yogurt's impact on histamine levels is a balance between its histamine content, its potential as a histamine liberator, and the possible lowering effect due to its probiotic content. Further research is needed to better understand these relationships and their implications for individuals with varying histamine tolerances. References: Zhang, W., Sun, Z., Bilige, M., & Zhang, H. (2020). Histamine production by Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Lactobacillus gasseri from traditional fermented milk, tarag. Food Science and Technology, Research Square. Thomas, C.M., Hong, T., van Pijkeren, J.P., Hemarajata, P., Trinh, D.V., Hu, W., Britton, R.A., Kalkum, M., & Versalovic, J. (2012). Histamine derived from probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri suppresses TNF via modulation of PKA and ERK signaling. PLOS One.