Estrogen
Estrogen is a group of female sex hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle, bone health, and cognitive function. Estrogen also influences DAO activity and thus histamine breakdown, which can explain cycle-dependent symptoms.
Background
Estrogens are primarily produced in the ovaries and control numerous body functions: from the uterine lining to bone health to mood and cognitive performance. In the context of histamine, estrogen is particularly relevant because it can inhibit the production of the histamine-degrading enzyme DAO. This explains why many women experience increased histamine symptoms during the estrogen-dominant follicular phase or during strong estrogen fluctuations in perimenopause. During perimenopause, overall estrogen levels decline, but with significant fluctuations that can further destabilize histamine balance.
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