HPU: Causes, Symptoms & Histamine Intolerance

HPU (hemopyrrollactamuria) is a metabolic disorder in which the synthesis of heme (a component of red blood cells) is impaired. This leads to an increased loss of micronutrients, which cannot be compensated for through diet. This deficiency can lead to a multitude of complaints and symptoms. In this blog article, you will learn how to manage these complaints and what connection exists between HPU and histamine intolerance.

HPU: Metabolic disorder at a glance

In most cases, HPU is genetically determined; about 10% of women and 1% of men are affected. Most of the time, HPU remains unnoticed for a long time, and the impairments are so minor that they are not even perceived. Complaints and secondary diseases can then be triggered by special stressful situations, such as injuries, operations, physical exertion, heavy metal exposure, or certain medications.

The role of HEME: Significance for the body and effects of HPU

As mentioned above, HPU is a metabolic disorder that disrupts the synthesis of HEME. HEME is a component of red blood cells and is required in the following areas:

Detoxification in the liver
During hemoglobin synthesis
During mitochondrial ATP synthesis
In the development of muscle tissue

Based on these disturbances, it is clear that those affected by HPU suffer from symptoms such as fatigue and exhaustion.

Diverse symptoms: Physical and psychological effects of HPU

The symptoms and the clinical picture of an existing HPU can be very diverse and vary in intensity. Symptoms can manifest on both a physical and a psychological level.

The following symptoms manifest physically:

Medication intolerance
Allergies and food intolerances (histamine, fructose, gluten, lactose, etc.)
Frequent fatigue
Rapid exhaustion
Susceptibility to infections
Thyroid disorders
Fertility, pregnancy, and menstrual problems (in women)

The following symptoms manifest psychologically:

Depression
Psychosis
ADHD
Short-term memory issues
Concentration problems
Sleep disorders
Susceptibility to stress

Stressed woman

HPU diagnosis: How is the metabolic disorder identified?

To diagnose HPU, specific diagnostics are necessary. If an HPU is suspected, a corresponding urine test is carried out. This can detect the faulty hemopyrrole complexes in the urine. However, a distinction is made between children and adults:

Children and young adults under 30 years of age must provide a single sample of morning urine.
For adults aged 30 and over, a 24-hour urine collection test should ideally be performed.

The connection between HPU and histamine intolerance

Many people with HPU are also affected by histamine intolerance, as those affected often exhibit an extreme nutrient deficiency of vitamin B6, zinc, and manganese. Vitamin B6 also plays a significant role in histamine metabolism, as it is required by the histamine-degrading enzyme DAO (diamine oxidase) for normal function. In general, nutrient deficiencies can also be the cause of histamine intolerance.

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Since HPU is also accompanied by a weakness in detoxification, various detoxification phases can only function to a limited extent. The result is that the liver is overloaded and the histamine-degrading enzyme HNMT, which is located in the liver, is restricted. This can lead to both degradation disorders of external food histamine (DAO) and metabolic disorders of the body's own histamine (HNMT).

HPU therapy: Treatment options for a better quality of life

As with histamine intolerance, it is important to ensure that the treatment for HPU is holistic. Ideally, nutrient deficiencies should be treated by actively taking vitamin B6, zinc, and manganese. If no active vitamin B6 has been taken previously, it is advisable to start with a low dosage, as otherwise side effects may occur. It is also recommended to start by taking zinc and taurine first, and then to take vitamin B6 additionally after 4-6 weeks.

Fortunately, HPU can be treated relatively well with nutritional supplements, so that symptoms can be significantly reduced or even disappear. Nevertheless, the metabolic disorder remains. Therefore, those affected should learn to make their everyday life more mindful, reduce stress, and ensure a low-pollutant diet.

Recommendations for a low-histamine diet for HPU and histamine intolerance

For a combination of HPU and histamine intolerance, we recommend a low-histamine diet with organic quality. Ideally, ready-made meals, caffeine, and alcohol should be completely avoided. In addition, sugar, dairy products, and gluten should be reduced. It is highly recommended to increase the intake of bitter substances, as they cause the intestine to contract and expand. This leads to pathogens, toxins, and food residues being excreted more quickly. Therefore, when digestion is improved, the immune system also benefits from it.

Apart from diet, it is extremely important to reduce stress, for example through meditation, a walk, or yoga. Sometimes it even helps to just say "no," set personal boundaries, and pay attention to your own well-being.