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The goal is to provide a low-cost supply of the vitamin to the developing world, where deficiencies of that nutrient cause widespread blindness and even death. The early-stage project, in which Anthony's lab has made one strain of the bug with an eye-catching shade of carroty-orange, is part of a fast-growing field called synthetic biology.

So, a strange combo of things, for sure. Using E. coli, something we generally associate with rather dramatic illness, to create vitamin A, a nutrient which is generally an afterthought for most people living in the developed world. Here's another great quote from the lead researcher on the project, biologist Jennifer Anthony: "We could potentially ask these bacteria to make anything, if we could find the genes for the pathway and put it in." Cool and fun science, check it out here: Finally, something good about E. coli.

To learn more about vitamin A, please have a look at the following page: DSIB Vitamin A

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Some news round-ups here, on two of the most buzzed about vitamins, folic acid and vitamin D.

First up, folic acid. It has long been known that folic acid supplementation is an essential precaution for pregnancies, which is the main reason why it is now added to the mass-produced bread you buy in the supermarket. New research has found even more compelling evidence supporting folic acid's benefit's for expectant mothers. A study from the University of Texas has found that taking folic acid supplements a year prior to conception reduces the likelihood of premature birth by 70%, a dramatic result, to say the least. This study was conducted with a very large population, nearly 35,000 women. If you or someone you know is thinking of having a child sometime soon, the below links are definitely suggested reading:

DSIB: Folic Acid
NPA: Folic Acid
PLoS: Preconceptional Folate Supplementation and the Risk of Spontaneous Preterm Birth: A Cohort Study
: Science DailyTaking Folic Acid Supplements Before Conception Linked To Reduced Risk Of Premature Birth
LA Times: A pre-pregnancy year of folic acid sharply lowers risk of very premature birth

On to vitamin D. The prevalence of forthcoming vitamin D research ensures that this isn't a supplement we will only be hearing about in the dark and wintry months when people don't get enough sun. The positive news surrounding this vitamin continues to pour in, and we'd just like to direct your attention toward a few prominent items of interest.

DSIB: Vitamin D
MSN: Getting Your Vitamin D All Year Round: Why the buzz about vitamin D is warranted.
BBC: Elderly need more 'sun vitamin'
Science Daily: New Model Of Cancer Development: Low Vitamin D Levels May Have Role
Daily Mail: Millions face serious health risks over lack of vitamin D in diets
NY Times: Nutrition: Vaginal Infection Tied to Low Vitamin D
MedPage Today: Low Vitamin D May Slow Cognition in Older Men
NutraUSA: Vitamin D good for brains and lungs, say new studies
NutraUSA: Low vitamin D may boost metabolic syndrome risk
UPI: Vitamin D or sunshine may help treat MS
Eureka Alert: Is vitamin D deficiency linked to Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia?
About.com: Vitamin D & Asthma
Forbes: Vitamin D May Help Keep Aging at Bay

According to an article in Tuesday's Canadian Medical Association Journal, our neighbors to the north may soon be reversing a policy which initially sounded like an entirely positive step: Back in 2005 Health Canada had proposed broadening the field of foods that might be fortified with nutrients such as thiamin, beta-carotene, calcium and vitamin D. The Federal regulations for this proposed plan have yet to appear, despite expectation that they would be released in March. This delay has fueled speculation that the expanded fortification plan may be altered drastically when it finally arrives, or discarded entirely.

The principle concern of many Canadian health experts is that this plan may lead to a marketing coup rather than actually improving public health. As proposed, the fortification plan would exclude foods which naturally contain vitamins and minerals (fruits, vegetables, grains, fresh meat and fish, spices, etc.), while foods that are less well thought of by nutritionists (frozen foods, packaged snacks, junk food essentially) would then have the opportunity to be fortified, and consequentially marketed as such: "Cheese puffs, with added vitamin D", as the Globe and Mail has it in Wednesday's newspaper.

So, perceived difficulty seems to be this: Will adding healthy ingredients to products which are not healthy 1) improve the health of those who are not particularly health-conscious in diet, or 2) sabotage the efforts of the individuals who are attempting to eat a healthy diet, but who will be misguided by new labeling and advertising claims. There is quite the spirited debate going on this topic in Canada, and to make it simple, it seems based around the public's gullibility to advertising. Here is a great quote from the CBC:

"My concerns are people might be avoiding healthy foods because they think, 'Now I don't need my apple a day, I can have a chocolate bar a day,'" [said Dr. Tom Ransom, an endocrinologist and obesity expert with Capital Health in Halifax.]

What do you think? Are we this easily mislead, wherein we could go so far down the (hyperbolic) path and fly so directly in the face of common sense? Chocolate bars/cheese puffs/whatever-your-vice being more healthy than the apple a day? Advertising is powerful, but so too is common sense. Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

Globe and Mail: Cheese puffs, with added vitamin D
CBC: Health Canada weighs fortifying junk foods
CTV: Critics slam planned food fortification changes