Rum

Rum is an alcoholic drink that is considered highly problematic for histamine intolerance and is rated grade 3 (very poor tolerance) in the SIGHI list. The main risk is the alcohol content (ethanol), which acts as a strong blocker of the enzyme diamine oxidase (DAO), thereby directly preventing the breakdown of histamine from other ingested foods. In addition, alcohol increases the permeability of the intestinal wall, which facilitates the absorption of histamine into the bloodstream. Although pure spirits are generally lower in histamine than fermented beverages such as wine or beer, rum often contains residual biogenic amines and liberators from barrel aging, making it an unsuitable choice for sensitive individuals.