Questions posted in the Neurology and Neurosurgery Forum have been answered by doctors from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

Question Title: neurocardiogenic syncope and dairy products/animal products

Forum: Neurology Forum
Topic: Autonomic


I am a healthy 29 year old with neurocardiogenic syncope. My condition with regards to exercise is more or less successfully controlled with atenolol, although I am extremely sensitive to heat, alcohol, and any type of dairy product, meat, or eggs. I live in the mountains so the heat is generally not a problem, and I was never much of a drinker, but the vegan diet is starting to get me down. I was diagnosed with the syncope roughly a year ago after a virus and I have had these food sensitivities ever since. I am not allergic to any of the foods but when I eat even small amounts of cheese, meat, etc. I become nauseous, weak, and irritable. Is it possible that these sensitivities are caused by the same or similar neurological conditions?


Thanks for your questions. A survey of medical literature of publications
over the last 25 years did not reveal any articles correlating the occurrence
of neurocardiogenic syncope and ingestion of small amounts of dairy products.
The only article stating a situation that was only remotely similar to yours
linked the occurrence of syncope in elderly patients that developed
postprandial hypotension after a relatively large meal. The reference is:

Cardiovascular and norepinephrine responses after meal consumption in elderly (older than 75
years) persons with postprandial hypotension and syncope.
Am J Cardiol 1986 Oct 1;58(9):810-5 (ISSN: 0002-9149)

The following two reviews explain the pathophysiology and common symptoms
of neurocardiogenic syncope. They are not intended and are not written in
layman's terms, but you can find them in good university libraries:

Pathophysiological aspects of neurocardiogenic syncope: current concepts and new
perspectives.
Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 1995 Apr;18(4 Pt 1):716-24 (ISSN: 0147-8389)

Neurally mediated syncope: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment.
Neurology 1995 Apr;45(4 Suppl 5):S12-8 (ISSN: 0028-3878)

I hope this information is helpful.

This information is provided for general medical education purposes only.
Please consult your doctor regarding diagnostic and treatment options.
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