Frappé Coffee Histamine Information

Frappé coffee, a popular iced coffee drink, can potentially impact histamine levels in the body. While concrete data on the direct link between frappé coffee and histamine levels is limited, an analysis of its typical ingredients provides insight. Standard frappé coffee is primarily composed of coffee, sugar, and sometimes milk. Coffee, especially instant coffee like the ones used in frappé, is known to stimulate the production of gastrin, a hormone responsible for stimulating the production of stomach acid, and it might also have histamine releasing properties(1). Sugar, another main component of frappés, doesn't have histamine itself nor is it a histamine liberator. However, high sugar intake has been linked to inflammation, which can potentially amplify immune responses and thus increase histamine levels in some individuals (2). Milk used in frappé coffee is generally not associated with high histamine content nor does it appear to be a histamine liberator. However, certain dairy products, particularly fermented ones like yoghurt and buttermilk, have been identified as containing higher levels of histamine(3). If a frappé uses such dairy products, the histamine levels could potentially be raised. If cocoa is added for a mocha variant, it should be noted that cocoa is both a potential histamine liberator and a substance that can delay the breakdown of histamine (4). While eating frappé coffee may not necessarily cause a high influx of histamine, the potential histamine releasing properties and elements that may delay the breakdown of histamine could lead to increased histamine levels in the body over time. (1) Maintz, L., & Novak, N. (2007). Histamine and histamine intolerance. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 85(5), 1185-1196. (2) Higdon, J., & Frei, B. (2003). Obesity and oxidative stress: A direct link to CVD?. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 23(3), 365-367. (3) Sattler, J., Häfner, D., Klotter, H. J., Lorenz, W., & Wagner, P. K. (1988). Food-induced histaminosis as an epidemiological problem: Plasma histamine elevation and haemodynamic alterations after oral histamine administration and blockade of diamine oxidase (DAO). Agents and Actions, 23(3), 361-365. (4) Jarisch, R. (2004). Histamin-Intoleranz, Histamin-und Seekrankheit. Thieme.