Lettuce could become source of insulin

Millions of Americans who suffer from insulin-dependent diabetes might eventually be able to treat the disease by consuming capsules of insulin produced by genetically modified lettuce. Researchers at University of Central Florida in Orlando who have produced genetically engineered tobacco plants with the insulin gene are now looking to transfer the technology to lettuce.

Lettuce was chosen because it is inexpensive to grow and avoids the negative stigma associated with tobacco. Although the insulin would be produced in lettuce, the chemical would be administered to humans in capsule form because the dosage must be controlled carefully.

Professor of molecular biology and microbiology Henry Daniell said research results indicate that the insulin capsules could someday be used to prevent diabetes before symptoms appear and to treat the disease in its later stages.

Nearly 21 million Americans, about 7 percent of the population, have Type 1 or 2 diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association.

{sidebar id=1}

For more: Henry Daniell, University of Central Florida, Burnett College of Biomedical Sciences, (407) 823-0952; http://news.ucf.edu/UCFnews.