| There was so much discussion after I posted John | | | | Update- September 2008 There are many articles |
| Kelly's article regarding sulfites, wines and headaches, | | | | lately regarding a newly invented device that detects |
| I did some further research and wanted to pass the | | | | the amount of biogenic amines in red wine. Here's the |
| information along. Red Wine Headache (RWH) is a | | | | most interesting part- they all allude to the fact that |
| well documented phenomenon. But there is no | | | | biogenic amines are the likely cause of RWH! But...I |
| definitive information regarding RWH because there is | | | | can't find any supporting information as to why they |
| no funding available for research. There is no | | | | now point to biogenic amines as the cause!? Amines |
| evidence that sulfites are the cause of wine | | | | like tyramine and histamine occur naturally in many |
| headaches. In fact, research done with subjects | | | | aged, pickled and fermented foods, including wine, |
| known to have sulfite allergies confirm that | | | | chocolate, cheese, olives, nuts and cured meats. |
| headaches are not one of the symptoms they | | | | Tyramines are one of the major biogenic amines |
| experience when drinking wine. White wines often | | | | produced during malolactic fermentation and aging. It |
| contain more sulfites than reds, and dried fruit contain | | | | is known that foods rich in amines can also trigger |
| sulfites and no one who eats either complains of | | | | attacks of high blood pressure, heart palpitations and |
| headaches. So what is the culprit? | | | | elevated adrenaline levels in some people. But as I've |
| Some have suspected tannins, but tea, soy and | | | | written above, histamines do not seem to be the |
| chocolate have tannins and don't seem to be an | | | | cause of RWH...confusing right? I wonder if it's a |
| issue. Red wine has a lot more histamines than white, | | | | combined effect of wine consumed with foods high |
| but there was a report in the Journal of Allergy and | | | | in tyramines? Many of the foods noshed with wine |
| Clinical Immunology regarding a study of 16 people | | | | are cured, pickled and aged. Engineers are working to |
| with an intolerance to wine, found no difference in | | | | shrink the detecting device to the size of a PDA so |
| reactions to low- and high-histamine wines. | | | | that users can easily carry it to analyze the amine |
| Right now it looks like the cause may be | | | | content in their food and drink. Patients taking |
| prostaglandins, hormone like substances that may be | | | | antidepressants known as MAOI inhibitors, block the |
| responsible for the production of some types of pain | | | | body's ability to break down amines, are at higher |
| and inflammation. A new study showed a distinct | | | | risk of blood pressure spikes from foods and wine. |
| decrease in headaches in subjects prone to RWH and | | | | I will continue to post new information as I learn of it |
| given prostaglandin inhibitors. In some non-controlled | | | | and if any readers have any information please pass |
| studies it looks like taking aspirin, which reduces | | | | it along. |
| prostaglandin production, may control or reduce RWH. | | | | |