Golden rice is engineered to address deficiency of which nutrient?

• A. Vitamin A (beta-carotene)
• B. Iron
• C. Protein
• D. Vitamin C

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is providing a dietary source of vitamin A precursors to address a widespread deficiency. Golden rice is engineered to produce beta-carotene in the edible grain. Beta-carotene is a provitamin A carotenoid, meaning the body converts it into vitamin A (retinol) needed for vision, immune function, and overall health. In regions where rice is a staple and access to animal-derived foods or fortified products is limited, vitamin A deficiency can cause serious problems like night blindness and increased infection risk. By enriching rice with beta-carotene, Golden rice aims to reduce this deficiency at the source. Iron deficiency, protein insufficiency, and vitamin C deficiency are separate nutritional concerns and are not what Golden rice is designed to address.