Journal
ANNALS OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
Volume 1390, Issue 1, Pages 59-73Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1111/nyas.13274
Keywords
metabolic engineering; biofortification; micronutrients; folate; iron; vitamin A
Categories
Funding
- WHO
- FAO
- Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science at the New York Academy of Sciences
- F.W.O
- Ghent University (Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds) [BOF2004/GOA/012, BOF2009/G0A/004]
- Research Foundation- Flanders (FWO) [3G012609, 35963]
- Evidence and Programme Guidance Unit, Department of Nutrition for Health and Development of theWorld Health Organization (WHO), Geneva, Switzerland
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Micronutrient deficiency is a widespread phenomenon, most prevalent in developing countries. Being causally linked to the occurrence of a range of diseases, it affects billions of people worldwide. Enhancing the content of micronutrients in crop products through biotechnology is a promising technique to fight micronutrient malnutrition worldwide. Micronutrient fortification of food products has been implemented in a number of Western countries, but remains inaccessible for poor rural populations in a major part of the developing world. Moreover, evidence of the negative impacts of this practice on human health, at least for some vitamins, is accumulating. Biofortification of crop plants-the enhancement of vitamins and minerals through plant biotechnology-is a promising alternative or complement in the battle against micronutrient deficiencies. Owing to a growing knowledge about vitamin metabolism, as well as mineral uptake and reallocation in plants, it is today possible to enhance micronutrient levels in crop plants, offering a sustainable solution to populations with a suboptimal micronutrient intake.
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