This article is part of the series about migraine and hypertension. An introduction can be found here. The different manifestations of migraine without headache with aura can be read here. Tyramine rich foods that can trigger a hypertensive crisis and migraines are listed here.
Tyramine is present in many foods that we eat. As they get in the body, naturally occurring enzymes break them down. Those enzymes are called monoamine oxidase (MAO). If there is something that will prevent the MAO from metabolizing the tyramine, then that is when a hypertensive crisis can happen.
This is why hypertension and migraines don’t usually occur unless the foods are very rich in tyramine or if there is something that will prevent the enzyme MAO from doing their job.
Monoamine oxidase Inhibitors
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) are prescription medications that were developed decades ago for depression. MAOIs prevent the degradation of other monoamines like serotonin, noradrenaline, and dopamine.
The resulting increase in the serotonin and dopamine relieved depression in many people.
The problem arose when they noticed that many people who take MAOIs developed intracranial bleeding from severe hypertension.
As it turned out, MAOIs also inhibit tyramine metabolism. This led to the release of adrenaline and noradrenaline that resulted in a rapid rise in blood pressure—the hypertensive crisis. The very high blood pressure resulted in the brain bleed.
The result is a drop in the use of prescription MAOIs. Changes in food processing were also mandated in some countries to decrease the tyramine content.
Why the Interest in Tyramine and MAOIs?
My interest in tyramine and MAOIs started after I had a severe migraine attack. I found out that it was from the cheese and peanut butter that I have been eating.
A question arose in my mind if there are foods out there that can inhibit tyramine degradation similar to MAOI drugs.
My suspicion is correct. The following is a list of foods that can potentially increase tyramine levels.
Dietary Monoamine Oxidase inhibitors
- Coffee (green beans, roasted beans, ground coffee, blended ground coffee, decaffeinated ground coffee, instant coffee, decaffeinated instant coffee, and espresso/brewed)
- Cigarette smoke
- Soy sauce
- Cocoa
- Alcoholic beverages, such as beer, wine, whiskey, brandy, sake, and vodka
- Well-done cooked meat and fish
- Toasted bread
- Raisins
If you refer back to the previous article about tyramine, you can see that some foods like coffee, soy sauce, and some alcoholic beverages like beer and wine are high in tyramine and MAOIs.
No wonder too much coffee, soy sauce, and alcohol abuse are bad for the body.
It is not all bad, though. There is a benefit to consuming foods with MAOI.
The Benefits of Foods with MAO Inhibitors
There are benefits to eating foods with MAOIs. Consuming foods rich in MAOI increases the levels of serotonin and dopamine in the brain.
Studies have shown that foods with MAOI can prevent degenerative brain diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
Symptoms of depression are also relieved by higher levels of serotonin and noradrenaline.
Research has shown a lower incidence of Parkinson’s disease in people who smoke and those who consume coffee.
Take Away Message
Many foods have beneficial and harmful effects. Studies about foods with MAOI show that it can prevent depression, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease.
However, in combination with certain foods that are rich in tyramine, it can theoretically increase the blood pressure. I have not come across such studies. That is why what I am stating in this article is yet to be proven but theoretically possible.
The key is moderation in food intake to prevent the development of chronically high blood pressure and migraines.
As usual, the poison is in the dose.
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References:
- Dixon Clarke, S.E., Ramsay, R.R. Dietary inhibitors of monoamine oxidase A. J Neural Transm 118, 1031–1041 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-010-0537-x [abstract]
- Piechowska P, Zawirska-Wojtasiak R, Mildner-Szkudlarz S. Bioactive β-Carbolines in Food: A Review. Nutrients. 2019;11(4):814. Published 2019 Apr 11. doi:10.3390/nu11040814
- Herraiz T, Chaparro C. Human monoamine oxidase is inhibited by tobacco smoke: beta-carboline alkaloids act as potent and reversible inhibitors. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2005;326(2):378-386. doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2004.11.033
- Herraiz T, Chaparro C. Human monoamine oxidase enzyme inhibition by coffee and beta-carbolines norharman and harman isolated from coffee. Life Sci. 2006;78(8):795-802. doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2005.05.074
- NEUROPHARMACOLOGY of BETA-CARBOLINE ALKALOIDS. Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. 2/28/2019
- (2004) Relative exposure to β-carbolines norharman and harman from foods and tobacco smoke, Food Additives & Contaminants, 21:11, 1041-1050, DOI: 10.1080/02652030400019844
- Tomás Herraiz Identification and Occurrence of β-Carboline Alkaloids in Raisins and Inhibition of Monoamine Oxidase (MAO). Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 2007 55 (21), 8534-8540
DOI: 10.1021/jf0719151
Image Credit:
Cup of coffee: By Julius Schorzman – Own work, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=107645
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