In westernized countries, adverse reactions to ingested foods are reported to affect up to 20% of the population. Functional, nonspecific, non-allergic gastrointestinal complaints are mainly due to the intolerance/malabsorption of carbohydrates (lactose and fructose), proteins (gluten), and biogenic amines (histamine). Food intolerance/malabsorption is defined by one or several of the above mentioned food components not being degraded and/or absorbed properly within the gastrointestinal tract. Food intolerance/malabsorption causes variable, functional, nonspecific, non-allergic gastrointestinal and extra-intestinal complaints, and a detailed diagnostic workup for all possible etiologic factors in individual patients is essential. Usually, evaluation for histamine intolerance is not included in differential diagnoses of patients with functional, nonspecific, non-allergic gastrointestinal complaints. A targeted dietary intervention for single or possibly combined intolerance/malabsorption is required. In this article, we review currently discussed differential diagnoses and available tests for intolerance/malabsorption. Accordingly, we aim to outline why including histamine and, histamine intolerance, should be considered in differential diagnoses of patients with functional, nonspecific, non-allergic gastrointestinal complaints.
Keywords: Histamine; diamine oxidase; food intolerance; food malabsorption; fructose; lactose; mastozytosis.