Allergies and Hormones

Females can often find themselves challenged with allergies or intolerances at the same time as they are experiencing hormonal changes to their body such as at the beginning of a young female’s menstruation (menarche) and for older females, at the end of their reproductive years (peri and menopause). This can add a burden whilst trying to cope with the changes to body and emotions. Hypersensitivity to allergens can also occur when there are fluctuations or imbalances of the menstrual cycle.

Changes in oestrogen levels and the dysregulation of mast cells are thought responsible for the sudden sensitivities when otherwise there was none. Some extreme hormonal and allergy symptoms can be a result of an autoimmune disorder which sees the body allergic to its own hormones.

Mask cell driven diseases such as allergic airways diseases, asthma and migraine affect females more than men with an exacerbation of symptoms prior to menstruation. Mast cells express receptors for oestrogen and progesterone. 

Hormones can trigger and exacerbate asthma

Fluctuations of hormones, as happens through the menstrual cycle, have been found to exacerbate the triggers which lead to an asthma attack in some people.

Triggers - such as exercise, environmental pollution and pollen - are often worse at certain times during the cycle believed to be related to fluctuations in levels of oestrogen and progesterone.

Female asthmatics may also find allergies and hay fever are worse at various times through their cycle

Research has shown that when females begin menstruating (menarche) before they have turned 11 years of age, or if they experience irregular menstrual cycles, they are more prone to developing asthma.

At the other end of the female reproductive years, the onset of menopause, when oestrogen and progesterone levels are all over the place, has been shown to be associated with the development or exacerbation of asthma.

Gender and age. Being an older aged female has been shown a greater susceptibility to developing asthma over males and younger females. But in saying that the reason behind the gender differences is more complex than just being related to a hormonal difference.

Obesity. There is an association between obesity and asthma, poorer asthma control and atopic allergy, Female sex hormone levels have been linked to increased fat mass and thought possible exacerbated by the common hormonal fluctuations of adolescents.

Allergic reaction to your own hormones

A hormone allergy is one in which the body expresses an immune reaction to its own hormones which results in interference with their normal function. This is especially apparent prior to menstruation when there are fluctuations of hormones and is the causes of many premenstrual symptoms, other unaccountable disorders and an increased hypersensitivity to allergens.

The allergic reaction and symptoms experienced with hormone allergy are the same as a reaction experienced to an external allergen, but often more severe and usually dependant on the hormonal cycle and load. Because this hypersensitivity is caused by more than one hormone (oestrogen, progesterone) different pathophysiological mechanisms are thought responsible, making it harder to diagnose and treat.

How a hormone allergy may affect he body

The symptoms of hormonal allergy can include:

• premenstrual syndrome
• premenstrual asthma
• menstrual migraine and loss of short-term memory
• weight issues
• fatigue
• skin issues
• mood swings, anxiety and panic attacks
• low libido and infertility
• chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia and arthralgias
• interstitial cystitis

Other manifestations of a sex hormone hypersensitivity can include urticaria (itching), dermatitis, rhinitis, bullous erythema multiforme (a skin condition consisting of eruptions of macules, papules and lesions considered to be as a result of hypersensitivity – often with an unknown cause) and dysmenorrhea (painful periods).

Unlike the apparent hypersensitivity experience in the early years of the menstrual cycle, and those peri and menopausal, hormone allergy is considered an autoimmune disorder with symptoms experienced being severe both physical and psychological. Immunotherapy for hormone allergy is the treatment options to improve immune regulation.

How to reduce histamine naturally

Histamine is a hormone produced by immune cells throughout the body and is important for many functions - digestion, mental health and reproduction, as well as being responsible for symptoms of allergies.

Histamine is also found in many foods (especially the yummy ones), such as cheese, cocoa, strawberries, wine and fermented and aged foods. Other foods can stimulate the release of histamine, - pineapple, citrus and tomatoes.

In normal circumstance the body is able to metabolise and remove histamine without it causing any harm. It does this by using two enzymes histamine N-methyltransferase (HNMT) and diamine oxidase (DAO). Problems arise when there is more histamine in the body than it can process, or when the level these enzymes are too low. Resulting in a (histamine intolerance).

Common causes of too much histamine

• Mask cell activation - due to food sensitivities, chronic inflammation and alcohol
• Histamine containing food – too many consumed in short period of time
• Intestinal dysbiosis - imbalance of gut bacteria. Some species of gut bacteria actually produce histamine
• Oestrogen excess – otherwise known as oestrogen dominance and poor oestrogen clearance

The other issue is mast cells

These store histamine, but also have receptors for oestrogen and progesterone. When oestrogen binds to these receptors it causes the production and release of histamine.

• Excess oestrogen means more histamine
• Histamine also causes an increase in oestrogen production
• Oestrogen reduces the activity of DAO enzyme

Progesterone can help out as it has an opposite affect on histamine. When it binds onto receptors on mast cells it prevents the release of histamine. DAO enzyme is also at its highest when progesterone peaks in the menstrual cycle.

Balancing the hormones naturally

There are a number of ways to help reduce oestrogen and improve its metabolism in the body.

Eat your greens
Especially the cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower. These foods help with clearing excess oestrogen from the body.

Fibre foods
 Fibre foods feed the bacteria in the gut which help to clear both histamine and oestrogen from the body.

Foods providing fibre include fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds and grains. If you need to supplement, consider psyllium husks, slipper elm, guar gum, acacia gum and chia seeds.

Reduce exposure to environmental toxins 
Some of these, such as BPA, phthalates, parabens found in many products, mimic oestrogen – in other words they attach to oestrogen receptors and trick them into thinking they are oestrogen.

Nutrients to consider for healthy hormones

• Magnesium – the go-to for hormonal health
• Vitamin B6, Vitamin C and copper are essential cofactors for DAO activity
• Zinc is critical for hormone release, immunological response and reproduction
• Probiotic to provide “good bacteria”
• Milk thistle supports liver function

Reducing histamine naturally

• Quercetin offers anti-histamine, anti-allergic and antioxidant properties. It may reduce the release of histamine, allowing the allergic response to be down-regulated
• Vitamin C offers anti histamine and antioxidant properties 
• Albizia (Albizia lebbeck) suppresses histamine signaling preventing allergic reactions
• Turmeric (Curcuma longa​) offers antiallergic properties with inhibitory effect on histamine release from mast cells

References

1. Younger pubertal age is associated with allergy and other atopic conditions in girls https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4321790/
2. Estrogen effects in allergy and asthma https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3537328/
3. Fluctuations in female sex hormones could play a role in the development of allergies and asthma, a major review of evidence suggests. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/02/180215105729.htm
4. Gender aspects and influence of hormones on bronchial asthma – Secondary publication and update https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5745695/
5. Mechanisms Driving Gender Differences in Asthma https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28332107/
6. Younger pubertal age is associated with allergy and other atopic conditions in girls https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4321790/
7. Gender and Atopy Influences on the Natural History of Rhinitis https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3326582/
8. Estrogen and estrogen receptor signaling promotes allergic immune responses: Effects on immune cells, cytokines, and inflammatory factors involved in allergy https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31248582/
9. Mast cell-neural interactions contribute to pain and itch https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5812374/
10. Roads Less Travelled: Sexual Dimorphism and Mast Cell Contributions to Migraine Pathology https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4836167/
11. Hormonal Link to Autoimmune Allergies https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3658477/
12. Histamine and histamine intolerance https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/85/5/1185/4633007
13. Sex hormone allergy: clinical aspects, causes and therapeutic strategies – Update and secondary publication https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5745953/
14. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/erythema-multiforme/
15. Role of Histamine in Modulating the Immune Response and Inflammation https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6129797/
16. Histamine, histamine intoxication and intolerance https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301054615000932
17. Estradiol activates mast cells via a non-genomic estrogen receptor-alpha and calcium influx https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17084457/
18. The Role of Zinc in Selected Female Reproductive System Disorders https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7468694/