diarrhea as a side effect of the keto-diet

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SarahB
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diarrhea as a side effect of the keto-diet

Post by SarahB »

A few years ago I posted on this forum about experiencing diarrhea as a side effect of the keto-diet. Well, I figured out what happened and wanted to share. My problem with a keto-diet relates to a homozygous mutation in diamine oxidase (DAO). This mutation prevents me from degrading histamine in food. So many foods trigger histamine in my gut. And the keto diet is quite rich in foods that are high in histamine (avocados, fish, olives, and so on). My symptoms only resolved when I commenced a low histamine diet. The low histamine diet also has quieted down my migraines (the reason I started the keto-diet in the first place). So, if you find that you can't tolerate a keto-diet due to diarrhea, consider checking for T alleles in the AOC1 (DAO) gene. Each T allele reduces enzyme activity.

I had to put this together myself - various medical doctors, including specialists, several "practitioners," and internet services couldn't put it together. Seems histamine intolerance is more of a "thing" in Europe than in Australia and some of the best resources are out of Switzerland.
SarahB
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Re: diarrhea as a side effect of the keto-diet

Post by SarahB »

A few years ago I posted on this forum about experiencing diarrhea as a side effect of the keto-diet. Well, I figured out what happened and wanted to share. My problem with a keto-diet relates to a homozygous mutation in diamine oxidase (DAO). This mutation prevents me from degrading histamine in food. So many foods trigger histamine in my gut. And the keto diet is quite rich in foods that are high in histamine (avocados, fish, olives, and so on). My symptoms only resolved when I commenced a low histamine diet. The low histamine diet also has quieted down my migraines (the reason I started the keto-diet in the first place). So, if you find that you can't tolerate a keto-diet due to diarrhea, consider checking for T alleles in the AOC1 (DAO) gene. Each T allele reduces enzyme activity.

I had to put this together myself - various medical doctors, including specialists, several "practitioners," and internet services couldn't put it together. Seems histamine intolerance is more of a "thing" in Europe than in Australia and some of the best resources are out of Switzerland.
NF52
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Re: diarrhea as a side effect of the keto-diet

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SarahB wrote:A few years ago I posted on this forum about experiencing diarrhea as a side effect of the keto-diet. Well, I figured out what happened and wanted to share. My problem with a keto-diet relates to a homozygous mutation in diamine oxidase (DAO). This mutation prevents me from degrading histamine in food. So many foods trigger histamine in my gut. And the keto diet is quite rich in foods that are high in histamine (avocados, fish, olives, and so on). My symptoms only resolved when I commenced a low histamine diet. The low histamine diet also has quieted down my migraines (the reason I started the keto-diet in the first place). So, if you find that you can't tolerate a keto-diet due to diarrhea, consider checking for T alleles in the AOC1 (DAO) gene. Each T allele reduces enzyme activity.

I had to put this together myself - various medical doctors, including specialists, several "practitioners," and internet services couldn't put it together. Seems histamine intolerance is more of a "thing" in Europe than in Australia and some of the best resources are out of Switzerland.
Thanks for sharing, SarahB. That's some great sleuthing on your part.

For those wondering if they also have the DAO mutation, rs10156191 is the SNP to check, according to this 2012 article in PLOS One, the NIH library: The Diamine Oxidase Gene Is Associated with Hypersensitivity Response to Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs. The title refers to common allergic drug reactions to NSAIDs is people who have the mutation, which sounds like another good reason to check in those with drug sensitivity.
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doodles
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Re: diarrhea as a side effect of the keto-diet

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I am heterozygous for rs10156191 (that means only one mutated copy was passed down to me from a parent). One day, I made a breve with straight coconut cream for the first time. And I got horrible diarrhea.

But a week later, I used a “cream” with only a mix of almond and coconut cream called Better Half for my breve. I’ve never had a problem with it. But I also consumed a higher fat keto yogurt, plus indulged in 6 Hersheys kisses since it was a single holiday treat…and not only got terrible runs but had to throw up.

Huge, huge lesson learned. I can’t tolerate straight coconut cream, but clearly didn’t tolerate a big hit of mixed fat, period.
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Re: diarrhea as a side effect of the keto-diet

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doodles wrote: Mon Dec 27, 2021 8:14 am I am heterozygous for rs10156191 (that means only one mutated copy was passed down to me from a parent). One day, I made a breve with straight coconut cream for the first time. And I got horrible diarrhea.

But a week later, I used a “cream” with only a mix of almond and coconut cream called Better Half for my breve. I’ve never had a problem with it. But I also consumed a higher fat keto yogurt, plus indulged in 6 Hersheys kisses since it was a single holiday treat…and not only got terrible runs but had to throw up.

Huge, huge lesson learned. I can’t tolerate straight coconut cream, but clearly didn’t tolerate a big hit of mixed fat, period.
Sorry to hear your body didn't enjoy its holiday treat! I suspect many people with a variety of genes or gallbladder issues or simply less "tolerance" for high fat share your pain. Hope the New Year brings easier experimentation!
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doodles
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Re: diarrhea as a side effect of the keto-diet

Post by doodles »

There may be more to this for some of us than a mutated gene. I found all the reasons this can happen:

1) Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome—also known as IBS—is a stomach condition affecting the colon, or large intestine. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, eating even moderate amounts of fatty foods, such as fried foods, can exacerbate IBS symptoms, one of which is severe diarrhea.

2) Chronic Pancreatitis
Chronic pancreatitis a condition that affects the pancreas, making it difficult for the body to absorb certain types of nutrients, including fat. Patients with chronic pancreatitis may experience oily or fatty diarrhea. Alcohol abuse is a common cause of chronic pancreatitis, affecting the body's ability to absorb the high fat food you just ate.

3) Stress
Eating fatty foods while undergoing significant stress may trigger diarrhea due to the body's reaction to external conditions.

4) Other
According to gastroenterologist Frank Jackson, M.D., your stomach and digestive system sometimes experience an abnormal change in function due to a certain type of food or combination of foods, and is not linked to any chronic condition.

5) Gastroparesis
Gastroparesis is a medical problem that can impair your body's ability to digest fatty foods. According to the American College of Gastroenterology, or ACG, gastroparesis is a digestive disorder that affects the ability of your stomach to empty its contents. The term gastroparesis literally means stomach paralysis. When you have gastroparesis, your stomach is unable to contract normally, which means it cannot crush food or push partially digested food into your small intestine. With gastroparesis, normal digestion -- including the digestion of fatty food -- may not occur. Common signs and symptoms associated with gastroparesis include bloating, the sensation of fullness when eating, heartburn, upper abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting and unintended weight loss. The ACG notes ingestion of solid foods, high-fiber foods and fatty foods can provoke symptoms.

6) Gallstones
Gallstones can cause problems with fatty food digestion. Gallstones are hardened masses of digestive fluid that manifest in your gallbladder, a small, pear-shaped organ located in the upper right quadrant of your abdomen, just below your liver. Your gallbladder stores bile, a digestive fluid, that is released into your small intestine. Certain risk factors can increase your likelihood of gallstones or pain due to inflammation of your gallbladder, including consuming a high-fat, low-fiber diet, having obesity or overweight, being pregnant, being female and being over age 60. Common signs and symptoms associated with gallstones include intensifying pain in your upper right abdominal quadrant that comes on suddenly, back pain between your shoulder blades, pain in your right shoulder, jaundice and high fever with chills.
SarahB
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Re: diarrhea as a side effect of the keto-diet

Post by SarahB »

doodles wrote: Tue Dec 28, 2021 8:44 pm There may be more to this for some of us than a mutated gene.
Yes, before I learned I had histamine intolerance and correlated with my DNA to find the mutation, I considered all of these possibilities. And had a crazy huge medical workup. I was seriously considering another entity call "bile acid diarrhea" as the cause, but a low fat diet didn't help. S
Blissful1
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Re: diarrhea as a side effect of the keto-diet

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Thank you for this info and research. I looked up my AOC1 and I am C/T heterozygous.
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Re: diarrhea as a side effect of the keto-diet

Post by Blissful1 »

Thank you for this info and research. I looked up my AOC1 and I am C/T heterozygous.
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