Gene-edited tomatoes could address Vitamin D deficiency

By using gene-editing technology to develop Vitamin D-rich tomatoes, researchers at the UK's John Innes Centre may have found an innovative and sustainable way of addressing vitamin deficiency. The breakthrough could support global efforts to alleviate health issues and supplement the diets of vegetarians and vegans.

Vitamin D is crucial for good bones because it helps the body to absorb and retain calcium and phosphorus. In recent years, the nutrient has also been found to strengthen the immune system, improve the mood, and help with many other health issues such as heart disease and cancers. Unfortunately, most people cannot get enough of it from food alone. Vitamin D deficiency affects an estimated one billion people globally.?

Scientists at the John Innes Centre, an independent research institute in Norwich, UK, have developed gene-edited tomatoes as a new source of vitamin D. The fruit of naturally occurring tomatoes does not contain Vitamin D, but their leaves contain a compound called 7-DHC, which is one of the building blocks of the vital nutrient.

The researchers used the CRISPR gene-editing tool to switch off an enzyme that is responsible for converting 7-DHC into other molecules. As a result, 7-DHC accumulated in the gene-edited tomato fruits. In the next step, researchers shone UVB light on the tomato fruits, and found that the 7-DHC had turned into Vitamin D3. The study established that one gene-edited tomato could produce as much Vitamin D as two medium-sized eggs or 28 grams of tuna.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has helped to highlight the issue of Vitamin D insufficiency and its impact on our immune function and general health. The Provitamin D enriched tomatoes we have produced offer a much-needed plant-based source of the sunshine vitamin. That is great news for people adopting a plant-rich, vegetarian or vegan diet, and for the growing number of people worldwide suffering from the problem of Vitamin D insufficiency,” said Dr. Jie Li, a member of the research team.

Do you want to get actionable insights on innovation trends in food and agriculture? Find out how our?Supertrends Pro app?can inform your strategic decision-making.

Jiqing Hansen

Editor & Relationship Manager at Supertrends