ARE U-SHAPED DOSE RESPONSES FOR VITAMINS AND MINERALS EXAMPLES OF HORMESIS?
Various researchers have used the U-shaped dose responses for vitamins and minerals as examples of hormesis [55], but this is not recommended. The U-shaped dose responses in these instances represent organismal responses to nutrient deficits, optima, and excessive exposures. Hormesis studies usually have concerned agents that are not nutrients. In theory, however, if a nutrient were administered in excessive doses, causing a disruption in homeostasis, then it would be expected to induce a hormetic response. This would generate a different dose response than shown in the deficient optima/excessive dose response addressed in the above question (Fig. 11).
