Histidine is a semi-essential amino acid that your body needs during periods of growth, stress, and recovery from illness and injury. This nutrient is an essential amino acid for children. Dietary sources include pork, poultry, cheese, and wheat germ.
Because taking too much histidine can cause a copper deficiency, you may need to supplement your diet with extra copper.
Although health practitioners use histidine less frequently than other amino acids, your body uses it to make histamine, which reduces your sensitivity to allergens. (Your body, however, can’t make all the histamine you need.) This amino acid can also enhance the uptake of some minerals like zinc and inhibit the absorption of copper.
Key uses of histidine include:
Clinicians recommend this amino acid in the treatment of allergic disorders, high blood pressure, and anemia, because it helps in the formation of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin carries oxygen in the blood.
You can take histidine following an injury, because it helps form and repair tissue formation and repair.
Researchers have linked low histidine levels in the body to symptoms of fibromyalgia (painful or inflamed muscles).