Why Less Stress Can Sometimes Make Things Better
Hormesis and hydra effects revealed by intraspecific overcompensation models and dose-response curves.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
When a group (like fish or cells) gets a little bit of stress, it can bounce back stronger than before—but too much stress makes it collapse. This isn't because the stress is good, but because of how the group grows.
Surprising Findings
No biological mechanism is needed to explain hormesis—nonlinear math alone can generate the exact curves scientists use as 'proof' of benefit.
For decades, hormesis has been cited as evidence of biological adaptation. This study says: maybe it’s just a pattern in how populations grow, not a sign of health improvement.
Practical Takeaways
Be skeptical of supplements or diets claiming 'low-dose benefits'—ask if the evidence is based on human trials or just U-shaped curves from lab data.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
When a group (like fish or cells) gets a little bit of stress, it can bounce back stronger than before—but too much stress makes it collapse. This isn't because the stress is good, but because of how the group grows.
Surprising Findings
No biological mechanism is needed to explain hormesis—nonlinear math alone can generate the exact curves scientists use as 'proof' of benefit.
For decades, hormesis has been cited as evidence of biological adaptation. This study says: maybe it’s just a pattern in how populations grow, not a sign of health improvement.
Practical Takeaways
Be skeptical of supplements or diets claiming 'low-dose benefits'—ask if the evidence is based on human trials or just U-shaped curves from lab data.
Publication
Journal
Journal of the Royal Society, Interface
Year
2025
Authors
Sanyi Tang, Xin Feng, Dingding Yan, Juhua Liang, Lili Liu, Yanni Xiao, B. Tang, R. Cheke
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Claims (10)
The hormetic dose-response curve for plant-derived phytochemicals in humans is undefined, with no established thresholds for beneficial versus harmful effects.
In the math model, the way a population grows after being killed off looks the same as when it grows after a small stress—so the model can’t tell them apart without extra info.
This math model gives scientists one way to talk about different kinds of 'bounce-back' in nature—whether it’s fish, diseases, or poison responses—using the same equations.
For a population to bounce back stronger after a small shock, the model says it needs to grow fast, the shock must be weak, and there must be enough individuals left to start recovering.
The math model used for fish populations might also be used to guess how tumors react to treatment—like if a little chemo makes them grow more—but this is just a guess, not proven.