L-Histidine
L-histidine
is a water soluble semi-essential amino acid. It is
clearly known to be essential for developing children
but is thought to be non-essential, as a rule, for adults.
There are a lot of experts that feel it should be considered
an essential amino acid even throughout adulthood. Chemically,
it is called (S)-alpha-amino-lH-imidazole-4-propanoic
acid; alpha-amino-4 (or 5)-imidazolepropionic acid;
L-2-amino-3-(lH-imidazol-4yl) propionic acid, and glyoxaline-5-alanine.
Its IUPAC abbreviation is His, and its one-letter abbreviation
is H.
Function-
Histidine leads to the manufacturing of histamine. Histamine
is very important in immune response. One of histamine's
many roles in the body is to act as an inhibitory neurotransmitter.
It is used to promote alpha-wave activity in the brain
which enables an individual to handle anxiety and stress
easier. If you are deficient in histidine it leads to
a lack of histamine and creates unbalances of the calming
alpha rhythms in the brain, allowing the excitory beta
waves (responsible for the brain activity that leads
to anger and tension) to dominate.
Histidine plays a major part of the immune response
with a group of cells called the mast cells. Cellular
damage caused by viruses, toxins, or allergens affects
the mast cells which release histamine to combat the
attack. Histamine causes the blood vessels to dilate,
leading to swelling, flushing and reddening of the skin.
This is why anti-inflammatory drugs are called antihistamines.
Proper levels of histamine are needed to regulate antibodies
and prevent them from overreacting (allergic response)
to harmless substances such as perfume, dust and pets.
This immune modulation and the fact that it is an excellent
chelator make it one of the best available treatments
for autoimmune diseases such as allergies, lupus, and
rheumatoid arthritis.
For those who suffer from indigestion histidine helps
to improve digestion by increasing the production of
stomach acid. This is crucial for the proper breakdown
of food and nutrient absorbtion. Histidine is used to
treat ulcers, and relieves heartburn and the nausea
even resulting from pregnancy.
Histidine's most significant role may be in sexual dysfunction.
Research shows that the release of histamine from the
mast cells is closely related to orgasm. Women who are
unable to achieve orgasm are consistently found to be
low in histamine. Supplemental histidine can promote
incredible changes in this condition. Premature ejaculation
may be due to excess histamine.
Deficiency-
Sexual dysfunction such as inability to climax, excessive
immune responses, digestive problems, inflammatory conditions
and auto-immune conditions (rheumatoid arthritis, lupus)
may be closely related to histidine deficiency.
Sources-
Rice, wheat and rye, dairy, meat, poultry and
fish have the amino acid histidine.
Precautions-
Histidine levels that are too high may lead to stress
and even psychological disorders such as anxiety and
schizophrenia; people with schizophrenia have been found
to have high levels of histidine in their bodies. Persons
with manic (bipolar) depression should not take supplemental
histidine unless a deficiency has been identified. Methionine
has the ability to lower histidine levels.
Requirements- There is no Recommended
Dietary Allowances (RDA) listed. Individual needs may
differ due to clinical conditions, biochemical individuality
and absorption. All sources of nutrients should be consumed
in their most natural state, in the form of a variety
of foods or supplements when necessary. Free form amino
acid supplements are immediately absorbed by the body
and should be consumed with natural occurring cofactors
for best results. Consulting with a physician that is
properly trained in the natural healing sciences and
amino acid therapy may be needed for optimum results.
Written
by Jerome
Rerucha D.C.
References-
1. Gerber DA. Low free serum histidine concentration
in rheumatoid arthritis. A measure of disease activity.
J Clin Invest. 1975; 55:1124-1173.
2. Blumenkrantz MJ, Shapiro DJ, Swendseid ME, Kopple
JD. Histidine supplementation for treatment of anaemia
of uraemia. Br Med J. 1975; 2(5970):530-533.
3. Schechter PJ, Prakash NJ. Failure of oral L-histidine
to influence appetite or affect zinc metabolism in man:
a double-blind study. Am J Clin Nutr 1979; 32:1011-1014.
4. Sitton NG, Dixon JS, Astbury C, Francis RJ, Bird
HA, Wright V. Kinetic investigations into the possible
cause of low serum histidine in rheumatoid arthritis.
Ann Rheum Dis 1988; 47:48-52.
5. Hamblin TJ, Holton JB. The effect of an intravenous
histidine load on the plasma level of other amino acids.
Clin Chim Acta 1972; 42(1):37-41.
6. Zlotkin SH. Nutrient interactions with total parenteral
nutrition: effect of histidine and cysteine intake on
urinary zinc excretion. J Pediatr 1989; 114:859-864.
7. Ohmura E, Aoyama Y, Yoshida A. Changes in lipids
in liver and serum of rats fed a histidine-excess diet
or cholesterol-supplemented diets. Lipids 1986; 21(12):748-753.
8. Woodworth ME, Baldridge RC. Metabolic effects of
an experimental histidinemia. Biochem Med 1970; 4:425-434
9. Wapnir RA, Lee S-Y. Dieterary regulation of copper
absorption and storage in rats: effects of sodium, zinc
and histidine-zinc. J Am Coll Nutr 1993; 12(6):714-719.
