Parents who are concerned for their childrens well-being may want to note that the found in orange corn could potentially reduce a childs risk for blindness or death, according to a new study.
Researchers from Purdue University recently discovered a new gene in corn that increases its vitamin A content and could potentially reduce childhood blindness and mortality rates. These findings are true for both yellow and orange corn, but orange was found to have a significantly higher levels of beta-carotene, which is converted to vitamin A during digestion.
The scientists are hoping that this will lead to the development of darker corn, which originated in the Caribbean and is prevalent in Asia, South America and Northern Italy.
“Were sort of turbocharging corn with desirable natural variation to make it darker and more nutritious,” said lead researcher Torbert Rocheford.
Its been reported that between 250,000 and 500,000 children around the world go blind each year as a result of a vitamin A deficiency. The researchers are hopeful that this new discovery will help combat these statistics.