Nutritional hormesis.
OBJECTIVE
Hormesis, the biological and toxicological concept that small quantities have opposite effects from large quantities, is reviewed with emphasis on its relevance to nutrition.


RESULTS
Hormetic and other dose-response relationships are categorized, depicted, and discussed. Evidence for nutritional hormesis is presented for essential vitamin and mineral nutrients, dietary restriction, alcohol (ethanol), natural dietary and some synthetic pesticides, some herbicides, and acrylamide. Some of the different hormetic mechanisms that have been proposed are reviewed.


CONCLUSIONS
The credence and relevance of hormesis to nutrition are considered to be established. The roles of hormesis in nutritional research and in formulating nutritional guidelines are discussed.


BACKGROUND
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Hayes
D P
DP
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York, NY 10007, USA. dhayes@health.nyc.gov
D001695:Biology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D008903:Minerals / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D010575:Pesticides; D014116:Toxicology; D014815:Vitamins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
D008903:Minerals; D010575:Pesticides; D014815:Vitamins