What is the Origin of Minimal Effective Dose?

This is a foundational concept in pharmacology and toxicology, often referred to as the threshold dose, and is a key parameter in dose-response relationships. It is central to the clinical practice of titrating medications for maximum benefit with minimum harm. The MED is mathematically defined in dose-response curves.

What is the Mechanism of Minimal Effective Dose?

The MED operates by providing just enough of an agent to saturate the necessary receptors or activate the target enzymatic pathway without triggering off-target or downstream compensatory mechanisms that lead to adverse effects. In endocrinology, this involves finding the dose of a hormone that restores physiological signaling integrity without causing supraphysiological levels or suppressing the body's endogenous production mechanisms. Careful titration prevents receptor downregulation or negative feedback loop overstimulation.

Minimal Effective Dose

Meaning

The Minimal Effective Dose (MED) is the lowest quantity of a therapeutic agent, intervention, or stimulus required to produce the desired clinical or physiological response in an individual. In hormonal health, this principle guides personalized treatment to achieve optimal therapeutic outcomes while simultaneously minimizing the risk of side effects, toxicity, or the development of pharmacological dependence. Employing the MED ensures the most judicious and sustainable use of exogenous compounds. It is a core principle of therapeutic safety and efficacy.