Researchers Discover New Enzyme, Could Lead To Relief Of Worldwide Vitamin A Deficiency

Atlanta: A research team’s discovery of new information about how plants synthesize carotenoids, precursors for vitamin A that are essential for plant development and survival, and human health, could help scientists increase the levels of provitamin A in food crops and reduce global vitamin A deficiency. The World Health Organization estimates 250 million children suffer from vitamin A deficiency.

Unintentional overdosing of vitamin A

Newcastle University  Dr Georg Lietz has been awarded $2.1M by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to assess the safety of vitamin A programs targeted at children in developing countries. Approximately one-third of children in low-income countries are deficient in vitamin A, and an estimated 157,000 children worldwide die each year because of vitamin A deficiency.

Previously unknown effect of vitamin A identified

Lund University. Sweden: Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have identified a previously unknown effect of vitamin A in human embryonic development. Their findings show that vitamin A affects the formation of blood cells.