Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 9, 2026

Profiling the Bacterial Community of Fermenting Traminette Grapes during Wine Production using Metagenomic Amplicon Sequencing
Published on: December 1, 2023
No correlation between wine intolerance and histamine content of wine
G Kanny1, V Gerbaux, A Olszewski
1Médecine Interne, Immunologie Clinique et Allergologie, Hôpital Central, Nancy, France.
Background:
Histamine is thought to be the main cause of adverse reactions to wines.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that the level of histamine in wine affects the tolerance to wine in 16 subjects with wine intolerance.
Methods:
We performed a study to examine the effects of wine histamine content in 16 adults with wine intolerance. Each subject underwent 2 double-blind provocation tests with wine: 1 with a wine poor in histamine (0.4 mg/L), and 1 with a wine rich in histamine (13.8 mg/L). Blood was collected for histamine and methylhistamine RIAs at 0, 10, 30, and 45 minutes after ingestion of the wine. Methylhistamine and methylimidazolacetic acid (gas chromatography and mass spectrometry) were measured in urine 5 hours before and 5 hours after ingestion.
Results:
No significant differences in the occurrence of adverse reactions were noted after ingestion of either of the wines (McNemar test). At 10 minutes, a significant increase was observed in plasma histamine with histamine-poor wine. No significant changes (Wilcoxon test) were observed in the methylhistamine and methylimidazolacetic acid levels after ingestion of either histamine-poor or histamine-rich wine.
Conclusion:
This study demonstrates that there is no correlation between the histamine content of wine and wine intolerance. The increase of plasma histamine levels at 10 minutes with histamine-poor wine suggested the role of a histamine-releasing substance. The role of acetaldehyde is discussed.
Related Concept Videos
Acid Suppressive Drugs for Peptic Ulcer Disease: Histamine H2-Receptor Antagonists
Hypothesis Test for Test of Independence
H0: The two variables (factors)...
Correlation
Two variables, for example, a and b, are said to be positively correlated if both variables move in the same direction. In other words, a positive correlation exists between two variables, a and b, if:
Gustation
Allergic Reactions
Amines to Sulfonamides: The Hinsberg Test
Generally, a primary amine reacts with the Hinsberg reagent to produce an N-substituted benzenesulfonamide. The electron-withdrawing sulfonyl...

