It is alpha-amino-beta-imidazolepropionic acid and appear to be vital for development, but not for the preservation of nitrogen equilibrium.
It is not synthesized in the body, but it is synthesized in the microorganisms. This is created in the intestine from histidine by bacterial decarboxylation. It is also usually formed in normal tissues and formed extremely in a state of allergic conditions.
Histamine is destroyed by histaminase present in the animal tissues with the creation of beta-imidazoleacetaldehyde. This beta-imidazoleacetaldehyde is additional oxidized in the liver by aldehyde oxidase into beta-imidazoleacetic acid. It is then excreted through the urine. As well this major portion of histamine is metabolized through the creation of 3-methylhistamine and 3-methyllimidazole acetic acid, which are excreted in the urine.
Certain histidine compounds e.g. carnosine, anserine and ergothionine are found in the blood and tissues. Carnosine is beta-alanylhistidine and anserine is beta-alanyl-1-methylhistidine. These 2 are found in the muscles. Ergothionine is found in the red blood corpuscles in large amount. It is not synthesized in the body and completely comes from dietary sources.
Sources of histidine
Significant sources of histidine are dairy, meat, fish, rice and wheat.
Abnormalities of histidine metabolism
2 genetic disorders of this amino acid metabolism have been noted:
- Imidazole amino aciduria: In this condition large amounts of carnosine and anserine as well as histidine and 1-methyl histidine have been observed to be excreted through urine together with a condition of cerebromacular degeneration.
- Histidinemia: The defect is due to hypoactivity of the enzyme histidase present in the liver, interfering with the normal degradation of histidine. Retardation of development of speech might take place in such disease.
Benefits of histidine
Histidine is also a precursor of histamine, a compound released by immune system cells during an allergic reaction.
It is wanted for development and for the repair of tissue, as well as the maintenance of the myelin sheaths that act as protector for nerve cells.
It is also necessary for the synthesis of both red and white blood cells and helps to defend the body from damage caused by radiation and in removing heavy metals from the body.
In the stomach, histidine is also helpful in producing gastric juices and people with deficiency of gastric juices or suffering from indigestion, may also advantage from this nutrient.
Histidine is also used for sexual arousal, functioning and enjoyment. . By and large it is histamines that regulate ejaculations and orgasms. Men suffering from premature ejaculations frequently show increased histamine activity. They may be helped by an amino acid, which counteracts the creation of histamine from histidine, or the activity of histamine, namely methionine.
It is thought that histidine may be helpful to people suffering from arthritis and nerve deafness. Histidine is used as a supplement for sufferers of rheumatoid arthritis, since it has been exposed that in these patients, histidine levels are low. And last not least, histidine is, like many other amino acids, vital for development and general tissue repair.
Deficiency symptoms
Any significant deficiency symptom is not known but it is reported that a raise in the intake of this nutrient helps with the lengthening of orgasms and also more intense sexual enjoyment.
Symptoms of high intake
There are no reported side effects with histidine, but too high levels of histidine may lead to stress and mental disorders such as anxiety and people with schizophrenia have been found to have high levels of histidine.
People suffering from schizophrenia or bipolar depression should not take a histidine supplement without the approval of their medical physician.
Daily requirement
The every day dosage necessity is suggested as 8 to10 mg per day per kilogram of body weight.
Some important details about this amino acid
Histidine is a vital amino acid during infancy and its synthetic pathways in older children and adults are not well understood. According to studies the clinical signs of a lack of the enzyme, which behaves in the metabolism of histadine can include, impaired speech, development retardation or mental retardation. However, whether these findings are actually connected to lack of histidine is unclear since children who are deficient in histidine can be totally normal.
Too much histidine will in fact cause constipation, and this is overcome by taking zinc and GLA in the form of primrose, borage or black current oil.
Men and women having difficulties achieving orgasms may be help by histidine supplementation, as this may outcome in raised histamine levels in the sexual tract, which in turn may make orgasms and ejaculations easier.
