Total histamine degrading capacity: Correlation to stool histamine and its usefulness in supporting the diagnosis of histamine intolerance

• Published in: Analytical biochemistry Vol. 702; p. 115819
• Main Authors: Frost, Gabriele, Lutz, Christian, Schwiertz, Andreas, Huber, Hermann, Missbichler, Albert
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.07.2025
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; biochemistry; blood serum; Diagnosis; Feces - chemistry; Female; Food intolerance; frost; gender; Histamine; Histamine - analysis; Histamine - metabolism; Histamine intolerance (HIT); Humans; Male; Middle Aged; patients; Serum; Stool; Young Adult; Histamine intolerance (HIT); Histamine; Serum; Stool; Diagnosis; Food intolerance
• ISSN: 0003-2697; 1096-0309; 1096-0309
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2025.115819

The relatively new test (European Patent granted 2022) for determining the total histamine degradation capacity [Totale Histamin Abbau Kapazität/Total Histamine Degrading Capacity] THAK®/THDC of a serum sample has been compared in various settings with the individual clinical history and the levels of histamine in stool. The measurement of THAK can be carried out regardless of the current status of the patient (independent of any acute symptoms), therefore THAK test is a useful and very reliable instrument for supporting the diagnosing histamine intolerance. As soon as the THAK falls below a threshold value the patient is most likely to suffer from HIT, even if the intensity of the symptoms is low. Low THAK values correspond with a significant increase of histamine in stool. Results were evaluated according to both age and gender, no difference between the sexes were found. However, there is a noticeable dependency on age, although this is not diagnostically relevant. THAK® is a registered trademark of Frost Diagnostika. •New diagnostic tool supporting the diagnosis of histamine intolerance.•No oral provocation of subjects necessary.•Quantification of the individual histamine degrading capacity out of one serum sample.•Correlation of degradation in serum with histamine secreted in stool.