Corn save children from blindness and death

Recently, researchers found in the orange maize gene may have a significant impact on reducing childhood blindness and sudden infant death syndrome. These are data from a study conducted by researchers at the University of Pyurdyu.

The head of the research team Dr Torbert Rochefort, a professor of agronomic sciences, said in a yellow and especially Orange corn   found high levels of carotenoids, one of which is beta-carotene .

In the process of digestion   beta-carotene   is converted into Vitamin A . Every year, about 250 000 children in Africa and Southeast Asia go blind due to a shortage in the body vitamin A . These are the findings of the World Health Organisation. Half of these children die within one year after the onset of blindness.

According to Professor Rochefort, increase in beta-carotene   in cereal crops such as corn, it will help eliminate this problem. In addition, further work is with the maize genome, according to scientists, will enable enhanced production of substances zeaxanthin. This trace mineral that can protect from blindness of elderly people in the industrialized countries.

The research team pofessora Rochefort intends to continue to seek ways to improve the nutritional and beneficial properties Orange Corn . The study is funded by the US Department of Agriculture and the National Science Foundation. Another challenge is to promote this type of consumers. In the United States, Africa and many other countries still prefer to grow varieties of white maize.

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