by Jane Allyson

Created on: July 08, 2008

On the whole, many people would all be in agreement that pickled herring is extremely good for you. It is high in Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Vitamin D and it can be found all over the world and is considered to be quite delicious.

However, although the fish itself may be an enjoyable food to eat, and be beneficial to the health, the manner of its preparation may also have adverse affects on certain members of the population.

Pickled herrings contain a compound called tyramine. It is formed during the aging of protein-rich foods and has been linked to certain factors such as headaches and hypertension.
This compound is an amino acid and past research has shown that consuming food containing tyramine, may trigger headaches, caused by a lowering of the serotonin levels in the brain, and interfere with proper dilation of the blood vessels.

With the benefit of modern research, some experts now believe that tyramine is not the villain it has latterly been portrayed to be, however, it doesn't hurt to be on the safe side, and it may be wise to avoid foods such as pickled herrings and other foods containing a high concentrate of tyramine, until test results become much more conclusive.

Certain drugs that are used for depression and Parkinson's disease (known as Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors) can interact with tyramine and cause a rapid acceleration in blood pressure.

It is very important that when taking medication such as isocarboxazid, phenelzine, tranylcypromine, and selegiline, that a close eye is kept on the dietry intake. It is absolutely essential that foods such as pickled herrings, cheese, and Chianti wine, are to be avoided when taking MAO inhibitors as it can lead to potentially life threatening situations caused by elevated blood pressure and intracranial bleeding.

The possibility of an interaction between some MAO inhibitors and certain smoked, aged or pickled fish, will depend on the amount of tyramine present. It is important to keep away from foods containing high levels of tyramine during drug therapy and for at least a month after coming off the medication.

So in answer to the question of whether pickled herring is good for you, I would have to conclude that although the health benefits of consuming this delicious fish is well known and widely accepted, there is a certain section of the population that would find it most unbeneficial to eat.

Sources:

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/a rt.asp?articlekey=56182

"mental disorder." Encyclopdia Britannica from Standard Edition. (2008)

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