OFF LIMITS: Research shows that foods high in tyramine, such as aged cheeses, can worsen the symptoms of those with FD.

Researchers have discovered that they can help alleviate some of the symptoms of familial dysautonomia through diet.

OFF LIMITS: Research shows that foods high in tyramine, such as aged cheeses, can worsen the symptoms of those with FD.

FD patients are deficient in the protein IKAP, which affects genes that make monoamine oxidase (MAO), an enzyme that destroys tyramine. A diet high in tyramine can cause the autonomic crises that lead to such symptoms as vomiting, high blood pressure and fever. Foods that are high in tyramine include aged cheeses and smoked meats.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Berish Rubin and Sylvia Anderson, along with their team of researchers at the Laboratory for Familial Dysautonomia Research at Fordham University, discovered that the diet could work with FD patients after it was discovered that FD patients suffered autonomic crises following consumption of foods containing a high concentration of tyramine. Subsequent analyses of blood and tissue samples from FD patients showed that they had low levels of MAO.

“We believe that the majority of crises are due to reduced amounts of MAO,” Rubin said. “We have yet to find a child in crisis where we couldn’t figure out why they went into crisis.” Those who have altered their diets so as to avoid food high in tyramine, he added, “have seen dramatic improvement in the quality of their lives.”

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount