THERE'S a new weapon in the battle against blindness, and it's bright orange. A sweet potato bred naturally to contain loads more beta carotene than its traditional counterparts has helped stave off vitamin A deficiency in thousands of Ugandans. The announcement comes as other results confirm that beta-carotene-packed genetically modified rice can also boost dietary vitamin A effectively. Beta carotene is converted into vitamin A in the body.
About half a million children in Africa and Asia go blind every year because their diet contains too little vitamin A, which is vital for vision and the immune system. Of those who lose their sight, two-thirds die within months.
Aid agencies currently treat the deficiency by giving children high-dose capsules of vitamin A twice a year, but supplying the missing vitamin through locally grown food would be more practical and sustainable.
Enter the sweet potato.
Keep reading: Nutrient-boosted foods protect against blindness – health – 17 August 2012 – New Scientist.
