Genetically 'edited' tomatoes could provide an important new dietary source of Vitamin D
- Replies 2
Now that summer is over, more people are likely to spend less time outside in the sun, which increases the chance of not getting enough vitamin D.
Vitamin D is primarily obtained through diet, despite the fact that exposure to sunlight is the most common way to obtain it. Having said that, the majority of foods have very low levels of vitamin D, and plant-based foods are even lower.
Now, scientists have found a new way to get vitamin D from plants. They did this by "editing" the genes of tomatoes so that they have as much provitamin D3 (the ingredient that turns into vitamin D) as two eggs or a tablespoon of tuna.
The tomatoes' outdoor field trials are set to begin in the UK next month, and if they are successful, they could provide an important new dietary source of vitamin D for consumers.
Scientists have created tomatoes that have been genetically modified to increase vitamin D levels. Credit: AAP.
Tomato leaves are a natural source of 7-DHC, which is a component of vitamin D3 and one of its building blocks. It is commonly acknowledged that vitamin D3 is the most effective way to increase one's vitamin D levels in the body.
The CRISPR tool, which was developed to function like a pair of genetic scissors, was utilised by the researchers in order to modify the genome of the plant in such a way that 7-DHC would accumulate not only in the leaves but also in the tomato fruit.
When the leaves and cut fruit were exposed to ultraviolet light for an hour, one tomato had the same amount of vitamin D as two medium-sized eggs or 28g of tuna, the researchers wrote in a paper that was published in the journal Nature Plants.
In contrast to genetically modified organisms (GMOs), the tomato plants do not contain genes from other organisms and, in principle, could have been produced through selective breeding, albeit at a much slower rate.
Professor Cathie Martin at the John Innes Centre, who oversaw the study, said it showed that gene editing could be used to improve the nutritional value of foods and that the same technique could be used to make similar changes in any elite tomato variety.
Growers could also sell the leaves or unripe fruits to supplement manufacturers for processing into vitamin D tablets.
Vitamin D is sometimes referred to as the "sunshine vitamin" because the body produces it when exposed to sunlight. Credit: Freepik.
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that your body needs for many vital processes, including building and maintaining strong bones.
Low vitamin D intake is considered a major public health concern across the globe. In fact, vitamin D deficiency is estimated to affect 13% of the world’s population.
Here are some natural and effective ways to increase your vitamin D levels:
Spend more time in the sunlight
When exposed to the UV-B rays of the sun, the skin on your body is capable of producing significant amounts of vitamin D on its own.
Eat more fatty fish and seafood
Fatty fish and seafood are some of the best sources of vitamin D, though the exact amount of vitamin D in each type and source of food can vary.
Consume more mushrooms
When they are exposed to ultraviolet light, mushrooms, like people, produce vitamin D. The highest levels of vitamin D can be found in either wild mushrooms or mushrooms grown commercially and treated with ultraviolet light.
Add more egg yolks to your diet
Eggs from free-range and pastured chickens are a great source of vitamin D because chickens that have access to the sun make more vitamin D in their eggs than chickens that stay indoors.
Take a Vitamin D supplement
If you don't get enough vitamin D from food or the sun, you may need to take a supplement. The best way to figure out how much vitamin D to take is to have your levels checked by a doctor before taking a supplement or making any drastic changes in your diet.
We hope these tips will help you, members!
.png){kind=icon}
