Abstract
(English)
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NEODIET in the year 2000 published 18 reviews in a single issue (7) of the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture in May 2000, Vol. 80. The reviews centred on the potential for enhancement of nutrients (folic acid, minerals, carotenoids, ascorbic acid) and health promoting minor plant components (sterols, glucosinolates, and different families of phenolics) in plant foods. This was a major achievement to present up to date knowledge on biosynthesis, control points in biosynthesis, strategies to increase biosynthesis, effects of processing, and data on bioavailability, metabolism and toxicity; and thus give the genetic engineers and plant breeders a clearer view of the potential for improving human health. Our contribution was 'Potential for increasing the content and bioavailability of Fe, Zn and Ca in plants for human nutrition', E Frossard, M Bucher, F Mächler, A Mozafar, RF Hurrell, J Sci Food Agric 2000;80:861-879.The action finished with a European Conference on the Nutritional Enhancement of Plant Foods in Norwich form Sept 6-9, 2000. The programme began with a debate on the barriers to genetic engineering and was followed by 5 scientific sessions covering improvement of protein and lipid quality; metabolites of the isoprenoid pathway, metabolites of the phenyl propanoid pathway, vitamin C, trace elements and anti-nutrients, and the prevention of cardiovascular disfunction: folate and other essential nutrients. RF Hurrell chaired the 4th session which included a presentation by Paola Lucca, Richard Hurrell and Ingo Potrykus (ETHZ) on 'Approaches to improve the bioavailability and the level of iron in rice grains. The symposium appeared in Volume 81 of the J ournal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, July 2001 (P Lucca et al pp. 828-834).
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