玉米维生素A生物强化研究进展和展望

The progress and perspective of vitamin A biofortification for maize

维生素A对机体细胞分化、免疫功能、视觉感受等多个生理过程发挥重要作用。维生素A缺乏（vitaminAdeficiency,VAD）是世界五大微量营养素缺乏问题之一，全球每年有25万~50万儿童因维生素A缺乏患夜盲症，我国尤其欠发达地区也深受其影响。主要作物的生物强化是解决微量营养素缺乏最经济有效的手段之一。在回顾了维生素A对人体的重要功能、全球维生素A缺乏的现状的基础上，现重点综述了玉米维生素A强化的研究进展，并探讨了玉米维生素A生物强化面临的挑战和需要重点关注的问题。

Vitamin A plays critical roles in many physiological processes of organisms such as cell differentiation, immune functions, and visual sense. Vitamin A deficiency （VAD） is one of the most severe micronutrient deficiencies in the world, 250,000-500,000 children suffer from blindness each year owing to VAD. China is also a country especially in the poor regions suffering from VAD. Breeding increased micronutrient levels in cereal grains （biofortification） is an economical and efficient approach to address the challenge globally. This article summarized the significant functions of vitamin A, the issue of vitamin A deficiency and the progress of vitamin A biofortification in crops especially in maize （Zea mays L.）. Besides these, it discussed the challenges and issues about the biofortified vitamin A maize that needs to be paid close attention to in the future.