I have had
fibromyalgia for 25 years. I have fiddled with my eating habits for a long time
in order to find foods that make me feel worse and then eliminate them from my
diet. I have found a low-histamine diet works best.
I came
across some interesting information about fibromyalgia and the brain:
Fibromyalgia
Pain Linked with Glutamate and Histamine - Wellness Resources
(What I have
copied and pasted below is just a part of what is discussed on the site above.)
Two neurochemical compounds
altered in fibromyalgia amongst others include the excitatory neurotransmitters
glutamate and histamine. A significant study pertaining to fibromyalgia and the neurotransmitter glutamate was just released in the Clinical Journal of Pain in October 2017. In this systematic review, it was
confirmed that elevated levels of glutamate are present in several regions in
the brain (posterior cingulate gyrus, posterior insula, ventrolateral
prefrontal cortex, and amygdala). High glutamate levels were also associated
with amplified fibromyalgia symptoms. Those who follow fibromyalgia research
may not find this completely new, but the review study confirms just how big of
a concern it is. This makes management of elevated glutamate critical for
fibromyalgia management.
Glutamate is a powerful excitatory neurotransmitter that is
released in the brain by nerve cells and is necessary in small amounts for
brain function with learning and memory. However, excess glutamate damages
nerve cells. This occurs either because too much is produced or nerve cells are
overly sensitized to “normal” amounts. Too much glutamate exposure leads to high
levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and provokes oxidative, inflammatory
stress to the brain. Symptoms of excess glutamate may lead to increased pain,
anxiety, restlessness, sleep disturbance, depression, restless legs syndrome,
increased itching, poor focus, and other decreased cognitive skills.
There are many reasons for too much glutamate in
the brain. Elevated glutamate may result from neurodegenerative diseases,
concussions/traumatic brain injuries, stroke, hypoglycemia, and noise stress. Chronic, sustained stress is another reason for elevated glutamate as
the stress hormone cortisol triggers a release of glutamate in the brain.
Stress refers to anything (physical, mental, or emotional) that upsets the
body’s normal homeostatic balance.
Elevated thyroid hormone levels, like chronically elevated cortisol, may raise
blood glutamate levels. Elevated blood glutamate levels may be problematic for
the brain if the blood brain barrier is dysfunctional and leaky.
Elevated Histamine Levels
Histamine, like glutamate, is another excitatory
neurotransmitter that is also released by stress and is elevated in
fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis
patients. Histamine is involved with the immune system, skin, and
digestive tract, but it plays a major role with wakefulness, blood pressure,
satiety, and numerous other brain functions.
The brain and body contains histamine in immune
cells called mast cells. Mast cells release histamine in response to various
signals, like an allergen or other immune stressors. A major storage site of
mast cells in the brain exists in the thalamus, which is located next to the
hypothalamus. This region is the sleep-wake center of the brain.
When mast cells release high levels of histamine
in the brain, it signals the hypothalamus which leads to wakefulness, disrupted
sleep or insomnia. The release of histamine within the thalamus/hypothalamus is
thought to lead to impaired sleep quality seen in fibromyalgia and chronic
fatigue syndrome. Histamine release also perpetuates central
sensitization or chronic
widespread pain as histamine
releases substance P and glutamate
that causes oxidative stress, wind-up, and chronic tissue irritation.
Some individuals do not process histamine well
because of the DAO gene variants. Others may have a diet high in histamine
foods that the body cannot handle in significant amounts. Sources of histamine
in the diet include fermented beverages and foods like wine, champagne, beer,
kombucha, kefir, vinegar, yogurt, cured meats, and vinegar containing foods.
Mast cells are also highly abundant in the skin,
which is why histamine release in the skin creates itching. Fibromyalgia
patients have been found to have 5-14 times more histamine in their skin than
others. Mast cells in the skin provide an immune defense in the skin against
outside pathogens.
(You can read about Glutamate
here.) What
Is Glutamate? Roles, Benefits, Foods and Side Effects - Dr. Axe
(You can
read about DAO here) Diamine Oxidase
(DAO): Benefits, Dosage, and Safety (healthline.com)
I hope this
information will help someone with fibromyalgia. I have found that digestive
enzymes (DAO) help me as does antihistamines and cold pills.
