GM soybeans stop hair loss

New, and unusual, opportunities in biotech foods, as Japanese food scientists claim eating genetically modified soybeans could promote hair growth and prevent hair loss.

A team of Kyoto University researchers used genetic engineering technology to incorporate an antihypertensive substance derived from egg whites into the soybean.

"If we can confirm the safety of the soybean, we may be able to promote hair growth or stop hair loss just by eating them," said Masaaki Yoshikawa, professor of food science and technology at Kyoto University, reports Kyodo News.

The Japanese news service claim the team identified an antihypertensive substance called ovokinin in an amino acid compound found in ovalbumin in egg whites.

In order to enhance ovokinin's antihypertensive property, the team created a substance – novokinin - by modifying some amino acids in ovokinin.

The team fed shaven mice with one-1000th milligram of novokinin per one gramme of their body weight and found that their hair grew back faster.