Monday 23 May 2022 04:10 PM 'Super tomatoes' genetically engineered to produce more vitamin D could reduce ... trends now
'Super tomatoes' that have been genetically engineered to produce more vitamin D could help reduce deficiency of the vitamin around the world.
British researchers used a gene editing technique known as CRISPR to edit the gene involved in converting provitamin D3 into cholesterol.
They say editing this gene allows the tomato to keep more of the provitamin, which can be converted to vitamin D through UV exposure or sunlight.
The researchers from the John Innes Centre in Norwich claim the vitamin D you can get from eating one of these genetically modified tomatoes is equivalent to two eggs or 28 grams of tuna.
They could therefore help satisfy child and adult daily requirements for vitamin D3, reducing the risk of developing diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease and dementia.
Researchers claim the vitamin D you can get from eating one of these genetically modified tomatoes is equivalent to two eggs or 28 grams of tuna (stock image)
Laser imaging showed that the increases in provitamin D3 (7-DHC) were distributed in both the flesh and peel of the 'mutant' tomatoes (MUT#2)
Vitamin D deficiency is a major global health issue that affects approximately one billion people worldwide.
In the UK, most people will get the vitamin D they need from sunlight between April and September as long as they go outside.
This is because the body naturally produces vitamin D when exposed to sunlight.
However, during the winter months, we are more reliant on getting our vitamin D from foods
