Chinese scientists say they have created a new type of rice which produces a molecule that may help reduce the risk of heart disease.
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Coenzyme Q10 – also known as CoQ10 or ubiquinone – is an antioxidant produced in the body that naturally decreases as we age and is used by cells in the process to create energy.
Lower levels of the coenzyme have been found in people with heart disease or those who take cholesterol-lowering drugs, and CoQ10 is often used as a supplement as research has shown it can improve symptoms of heart conditions.
CoQ10 is found naturally in foods like fish, meat and nuts, while staple crops like rice, wheat and oats predominantly produce another form of the coenzyme called CoQ9, which does not have the same benefits.
“Engineering CoQ10 production in crops would benefit human health,” researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) said in a paper published in the peer-reviewed journal Cell on February 13.
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2-metre ‘giant rice’ twice as tall as other varieties nearly ready for first harvest in China
2-metre ‘giant rice’ twice as tall as other varieties nearly ready for first harvest in China
To achieve this, the researchers first studied 134 plant samples from 67 plant families to determine genetic variations in those that produce more CoQ9. Using this information, they successfully gene-edited rice and wheat that predominantly produces CoQ10.