A recently initiated human trial will explore if gene-edited tomatoes can enhance participants’ vitamin D levels. The researchers in the UK leading this trial are optimistic that their biofortified tomatoes may assist in combating vitamin D deficiency, which they claim impacts nearly one billion individuals globally.
Vitamin D is crucial for calcium and phosphorus absorption in the body and supports the health of our bones, teeth, and muscles. Insufficient levels have been associated with depression, dementia, and certain cancers. Though the body produces this compound naturally when sunlight hits the skin, many individuals experience deficiency during wintertime. Additionally, vegans and vegetarians might face a higher risk of vitamin D deficiency, given the limited plant-based sources of this vitamin.
Researchers from the John Innes Centre in Norwich are now set to determine if gene-edited tomatoes could offer a novel method for individuals to elevate their vitamin D levels. These edited tomato plants have been engineered to accumulate significant amounts of a vitamin D precursor in their fruit and foliage. This precursor converts to vitamin D3 upon light exposure, with researchers observing that each mature tomato contains as much vitamin D as two eggs or 28g of tuna. They aim to assess how effectively the vitamin is absorbed by the body after consuming the tomatoes, and whether they enhance the levels of active vitamin D in the bloodstream.
The new study will recruit 76 individuals suffering from vitamin D deficiency. Each participant will consume a serving of tomato soup daily for three weeks and will wear a UV monitor to track their sunlight exposure. Some participants will receive control soups made from standard tomatoes rather than the gene-edited varieties, though they will remain unaware of which soup they have been given.
‘People frequently use vitamin supplements, but novel breeding methods suggest that in the future, this already nutritious, fresh food that many consume could be fortified with micronutrients from inception, potentially enhancing the health of everyone,’ expressed project leader Cathie Martin in a statement released on the UKRI website.
The same research team has previously launched genetically modified purple tomatoes that feature elevated antioxidant levels.