The Hormesis Concept: Strengths and Shortcomings

Hormesis implies that the effects of various materials or conditions that organisms are exposed to, may not have linear dose-response characteristics but rather, can be biphasic. Thus the response to a low dose of a stressor may be the opposite to that occurring at higher doses. Such a dual response...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biomolecules (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2023-10, Vol.13 (10), p.1512
Main Author: Bondy, Stephen C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
biphasic
Diet
dose response
Drug dosages
Environmental conditions
Evaluation
Exercise
exposure
Homeopathic medicine
Hormesis
Medical research
Medicine, Experimental
Poisons
Radiation
Review
Toxicants
Toxicity
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Summary:Hormesis implies that the effects of various materials or conditions that organisms are exposed to, may not have linear dose-response characteristics but rather, can be biphasic. Thus the response to a low dose of a stressor may be the opposite to that occurring at higher doses. Such a dual response is postulated for many toxicants and physical conditions and may involve a beneficial adaptive response. Such a non-linear effect is undoubtedly present in many useful pharmacological and nutraceutical agents with can be toxic at high concentrations. This somewhat divisive topic is an area of study that should be objectively studied and not clouded by political and policy considerations. The objective of this review is to examine claims concerning those exposures where hormesis seems to exist and also those where there is no good supporting evidence. The breadth of this phenomenon and potential mechanisms underlying hormetic events are discussed together with their limitations.
ISSN:2218-273X
2218-273X
DOI:10.3390/biom13101512