<p>Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, have successfully genetically modified a plant closely related to tobacco to produce nutrients found in human breast milk. This breakthrough could revolutionise infant formula by providing a source of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs).</p>

<p>HMOs are essential components of breast milk known to promote healthy gut bacteria in infants and offer immune system benefits. Current infant formulas lack these HMOs or include only a limited variety, which limits their health benefits compared to breastfeeding.</p>

<p>Dr Patrick Shih, leading the research, spoke on the potential impact of the study, “Imagine being able to make all the human milk oligosaccharides in a single plant. Then you could just grind up that plant, extract all the oligosaccharides simultaneously and add that directly into infant formula. There would be a lot of challenges in implementation and commercialisation, but this is the big goal that we’re trying to move toward.”</p>

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<p>"While 75pc&nbsp;of infants are supplemented with or exclusively fed infant formula in the first 6 months of life, current infant formulas are either devoid of HMOs or only contain one to two of the ~200 HMOs found in human milk, limiting the health outcomes of formula-fed infants," as per the study.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The study, published in Nature Food, involved reprogramming the plant's sugar-making machinery by inserting genes responsible for producing enzymes needed to create various HMOs.</p>

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<p>This resulted in the production of 11 different HMOs, including LNFP1, associated with reducing infections in infants.</p>

<p>According to Dr Shih, this approach not only holds promise for improving infant formula but also for enhancing the nutritional profile of non-dairy plant milks for adults.</p>

<h5>Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pannun-murder-plot-accused-nikhil-gupta-extradited-to-us-from-czech-republic-732530">Pannun murder plot: Accused Nikhil Gupta extradited to US from Czech Republic</a></h5>

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<p>The scalability and potential cost-effectiveness of plant-based production make it a promising alternative to current methods, which involve microbial fermentation and are limited in scope.</p>

<p>Dr Shih also stressed the broader implications of the study.</p>

<p>“This could enable not just improved plant-based milks for infants but also for many other facets of adult diet and health. Plants have already been engineered to produce oils and fatty acids that are better for our health. These are just a few of a growing list of ways we can start making designer plants that are tailored to improve human health.”</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, have successfully genetically modified a plant closely related to tobacco to produce nutrients found in human breast milk.

Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, have successfully genetically modified a plant closely related to tobacco to produce nutrients found in human breast milk. This breakthrough could revolutionise infant formula by providing a source of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). HMOs are essential components of breast milk known to promote healthy gut bacteria in infants and offer immune system benefits. Current infant formulas lack these HMOs or include only a limited variety, which limits their health benefits compared to breastfeeding. Dr Patrick Shih, leading the research, spoke on the potential impact of the study, “Imagine being able to make all the human milk oligosaccharides in a single plant. Then you could just grind up that plant, extract all the oligosaccharides simultaneously and add that directly into infant formula. There would be a lot of challenges in implementation and commercialisation, but this is the big goal that we’re trying to move toward.” Also Read | A Biblical battle was fought 2,700 years ago in Jerusalem, and we now have proof "While 75pc of infants are supplemented with or exclusively fed infant formula in the first 6 months of life, current infant formulas are either devoid of HMOs or only contain one to two of the ~200 HMOs found in human milk, limiting the health outcomes of formula-fed infants," as per the study. The study, published in Nature Food, involved reprogramming the plant's sugar-making machinery by inserting genes responsible for producing enzymes needed to create various HMOs. Also Read | Maverick star, one of the oldest in Milky Way, spotted moving at insane speed This resulted in the production of 11 different HMOs, including LNFP1, associated with reducing infections in infants. According to Dr Shih, this approach not only holds promise for improving infant formula but also for enhancing the nutritional profile of non-dairy plant milks for adults. Watch | Pannun murder plot: Accused Nikhil Gupta extradited to US from Czech Republic × The scalability and potential cost-effectiveness of plant-based production make it a promising alternative to current methods, which involve microbial fermentation and are limited in scope. Dr Shih also stressed the broader implications of the study. “This could enable not just improved plant-based milks for infants but also for many other facets of adult diet and health. Plants have already been engineered to produce oils and fatty acids that are better for our health. These are just a few of a growing list of ways we can start making designer plants that are tailored to improve human health.” (With inputs from agencies)

Infant formula revolution? Scientists modify tobacco-like plant to produce human breast milk nutrients

<p>In comparison between 1940 and now, the amount of key nutrients in the fruits and vegetables available in the UK has reduced by around 50%, said a study. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The depletion has been witnessed in the levels of magnesium, iron, sodium and copper. It also means that citizens in the UK have the risk of facing malnutrition, warned experts. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The adoption of higher-yielding varieties of fruits and vegetables, industrial agriculture, and more reliance on imported produce seems to have led to this situation, said reports.</p>

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<p>In order to come up with the findings, the Coventry University researchers checked the nutrients in around 28 types of fruits and vegetables. These include, potatoes and bananas, which were available in the UK in the year of 1940, 1991 and 2019. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The levels of copper reduced by 49 per cent, iron fell by 51 per cent and sodium decreased by 52 per cent, as per the analysis, which was published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch | World Earth day: Are we standing by our climate pledges?</strong></p>

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<p>The amount of potassium has reduced by 5 per cent, magnesium 10 per cent and calcium 2.5 per cent. &nbsp;</p>

<p>A sufficiently varied diet is not consumed by ‘many people’. Teenagers also have poor diets, the researchers said. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Several fruits and vegetables nowadays have been bred to increase productivity and profitability and "this focus on yield has largely ignored any implications for nutritional quality", the researchers said. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


In comparison between 1940 and now, the amount of key nutrients in the fruits and vegetables available in the UK has reduced by around 50%, said a study. The depletion has been witnessed in the levels of magnesium, iron, sodium and copper.

In comparison between 1940 and now, the amount of key nutrients in the fruits and vegetables available in the UK has reduced by around 50%, said a study. The depletion has been witnessed in the levels of magnesium, iron, sodium and copper. It also means that citizens in the UK have the risk of facing malnutrition, warned experts. The adoption of higher-yielding varieties of fruits and vegetables, industrial agriculture, and more reliance on imported produce seems to have led to this situation, said reports. Also Read: With 505 days, patient in UK longest reported COVID-19 infection, say experts In order to come up with the findings, the Coventry University researchers checked the nutrients in around 28 types of fruits and vegetables. These include, potatoes and bananas, which were available in the UK in the year of 1940, 1991 and 2019. The levels of copper reduced by 49 per cent, iron fell by 51 per cent and sodium decreased by 52 per cent, as per the analysis, which was published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition. Watch | World Earth day: Are we standing by our climate pledges? × The amount of potassium has reduced by 5 per cent, magnesium 10 per cent and calcium 2.5 per cent. A sufficiently varied diet is not consumed by ‘many people’. Teenagers also have poor diets, the researchers said. Several fruits and vegetables nowadays have been bred to increase productivity and profitability and "this focus on yield has largely ignored any implications for nutritional quality", the researchers said. (With inputs from agencies)

Between 1940 and now, nutrient levels in fruits, vegetables in UK reduced by 50%, says study

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