A System Audit in the context of wellness science is a detailed, objective appraisal of how interconnected physiological regulatory networks are functioning relative to an established optimal set point. This comprehensive review examines the integrity and responsiveness of multiple feedback loops, such as the hypothalamic-pituitary axes. Such an evaluation moves beyond isolated markers to assess functional interdependence.
Origin
The term is borrowed from quality control and management systems, where ‘Audit’ signifies a formal examination, applied here to the complex biological machinery of the human body. It emphasizes holistic assessment.
Mechanism
The audit mechanism involves challenging the system with standardized inputs—be they metabolic loads or time-of-day markers—and then measuring the resulting hormonal and metabolic outputs. This reveals the system’s capacity to handle perturbations, identifying bottlenecks in signaling cascades, such as impaired sensitivity at a peripheral receptor site or reduced central drive from the hypothalamus.
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