Facts
Why histidine is good for you
Histidine is an essential amino acid, which is produced in adequate amounts by adults, but children may have a shortage. Histidine is required for the proper growth and repair of tissues. It is important for the maintenance of the myelin sheaths that protect nerve cells, and is needed for the production of both red blood cells and white blood cells.
Histidine protects the body from radiation damage and assists in removing heavy metals from the body.
Important histidine facts
- Histidine is metabolised into the neurotransmitter histamine, which is a compound released by immune system cells during an allergic reaction
- Copper and Methionine both lower blood histamine levels
Histidine works best with
Health
Histidine and health
- Stomach health – in the stomach, histidine is also helpful in producing gastric juices, and people with a shortage of gastric juices or suffering from indigestion, may also benefit from this nutrient
Talk to a medical professional about histidine supplements before taking them
Deficiency
Groups at risk of histidine deficiency
None known.
Symptoms of histidine deficiency
None known.
Food sources
Histidine in food
| FOOD | AMOUNT | Histidine (mg) |
|---|---|---|
Lean round beef | 450g | 4607 |
Lean leg of veal | 450g | 4585 |
1/2 turkey breast – no skin | 306g | 2870 |
Tuna, canned in oil | 1 can (171g) | 1467 |
Chicken breast, meat only | 100g | 1348 |
Snapper, cooked | 1 fillet (170g) | 1316 |
Halibut, cooked | 1/2 fillet (159g) | 1250 |
Pork loin chops | 100g | 1244 |
Canned tuna – in water | 1 can (171g) | 1239 |
Lean veal sirloin, cooked | 100g | 1233 |
Romano cheese | 100g | 1231 |
King mackerel, cooked | 1/2 fillet (154g) | 1178 |
:Lean veal shank, cooked | 100g | 1170 |
Lean beef, top round, cooked | 100g | 1153 |
Gruyere cheese | 100g | 1117 |
Ling, cooked | 1 fillet (159g) | 1110 |
Lean shoulder lamb, cooked | 100g | 1082 |
Swiss cheese | 100g | 1065 |
Daily intake
Histidine recommended daily intake (RDI)
| RDA | 33mg/kg weight (infants) 8-10mg/kg weight (adults) |
|---|---|
| TOLERABLE UPPER LIMIT | No information available |
| TOXIC LEVELS | No information available |
Toxicity
Overdosage, toxicity and cautions for histidine
There are no reported side effects with histidine, but histidine levels that are too high may lead to stress – people with schizophrenia have been found to have high levels of histidine in their bodies.
Precautions
Precautions
Persons with manic (bipolar) depression should take take supplemental histidine unless a deficiency has been identified
Interactions
Interactions
References
References
- Osiecki H, Meeke F, Smith J, The Encyclopaedia of Clinical Nutrition – Volume 1: The Nervous System, BioConceps Publishing QLD 2004
Last reviewed and updated: 8 May 2024
