What is the cheese effect with tyramine?
David Jones
Updated on April 05, 2026
An acute attack of hypertension that can occur in a person taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) drug who eats cheese, caused by an interaction of the MAOI with tyramine, formed in ripe cheese when bacteria provide an enzyme that reacts with the amino acid tyrosine in the cheese.
What cheeses are low in tyramine?
Low-Tyramine Foods Cheese made from pasteurized milk has lower levels of tyramine than aged cheeses. American cheese, cottage cheese, ricotta, and cream cheese are safer alternatives.
Which foods should be avoided by a client taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors MAOIs )? Select all that apply one some or all responses may be correct?
You’ll need to avoid foods containing high levels of tyramine ― an amino acid that regulates blood pressure ― such as aged cheeses, sauerkraut, cured meats, draft beer and fermented soy products (for example, soy sauce, miso and tofu). The interaction of tyramine with MAOIs can cause dangerously high blood pressure.
Does Chianti wine contain tyramine?
Other foods that contain high levels of tyramine are: aged cheeses, such as Brie, cheddar, Gouda, Parmesan, Swiss, and blue cheese. alcohol, especially chianti, vermouth, and beers.
Does red wine contain tyramine?
Tyramine. Tyramine is present in robust red wines as well as many other foods, such as figs, chocolate, avocados and cheese. One of the enzymes in the body that helps break down tyramine is monoamine oxidase (MOA).
Does red wine have tyramine?
Histamines and Tyramine, both of which are present in all wines are the guilty parties! The simple medical explanation for red wine headaches is, Histamines dilate your blood vessels and bring on the flushing and inflammatory sensations.
Does cheese have tyramine?
You can’t reduce the amount of tyramine in a food by cooking it. Examples of foods high in tyramine include: Strong or aged cheeses, such as aged cheddar, Swiss and Parmesan; blue cheeses such as Stilton and Gorgonzola; and Camembert.
Is white wine high in tyramine?
May 15, 2016 · Tyramine is nearly impossible to avoid, as it is so widely distributed in foods. In addition, the Tyramine content of wine is negligible (1-2 mg/L) in comparison with the Tyramine doses utilized in oral challenge studies (100-200 mg).
Which wines are low in tyramine?
Red wines contain histamines far more often than white wines do. Chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and sauterne are low in tyramine.
Does white wine have tyramine?
Sulfites are used in almost every type of wine as a preservative agent. The percentage of sulfites in wine is really quite low. White wines contain between 250 and 450 parts per million of sulfites. Histamines and Tyramine, both of which are present in all wines are the guilty parties!
Does Monterey Jack cheese have tyramine?
Monterey Jack is semi-hard cow’s milk cheese from California in the United States. Monterey Jack has lower levels of tyramine, a compound in many cheeses that is associated with headaches, than most cheeses. This makes Monterey Jack a good cheese choice for migraine sufferers.
Which cheeses are high in tyramine?
Types of cheese that undergo an aging process will be high in tyramine. These cheeses include cheddar, blue, swiss, parmesan, feta, and Camembert. A study found that aged cheese contains a compound known as spermidine which can help prevent liver damage.
What are some alternatives to tyramine in food?
Cheese made from pasteurized milk has lower levels of tyramine than aged cheeses. American cheese, cottage cheese, ricotta, and cream cheese are safer alternatives. 2. Vegetables
What alcohol has tyramine in it?
Fermented alcohol contains tyramine. Beer, red wine, vermouth, sherry, and some liqueurs have high amounts of tyramine. 1. Pasteurized Cheese Cheese made from pasteurized milk has lower levels of tyramine than aged cheeses.
What happens to tyramine in cheese during ripening?
During ripening of cheeses, the casein is broken down to form peptides and free aminoacids. In 1965[1] in their seminal article, Blackwell and co-workers have shown that tyramine in cheese is related to the hypertensive crises after MAO inhibition.