Review
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2007) 61, 147–159. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602507; published online 2 August 2006
Nutritional hormesis
D P Hayes1
1New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York, NY, USA
Correspondence: Dr DP Hayes, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 2 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10007, USA. E-mail: dhayes@health.nyc.gov
Received 2 January 2006; Revised 31 May 2006; Accepted 9 June 2006; Published online 2 August 2006.
Abstract
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.
Sponsorship:
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Keywords:
hormesis, dose–response relationships, dietary restriction, alcohol/ethanol, pesticides, acrylamide
MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS
These links to content published by NPG are automatically generated
RESEARCH
Neuropsychopharmacology Original Article
