T-shirt fills vitamin gap

Why eat when you can wear?

A Japanese company says people will soon be able to get their daily dose of Vitamin C simply by wearing a T-shirt.

The Fuji Spinning Company has developed a fibre containing a chemical called pro-vitamin, which turns into Vitamin C on contact with human skin.

Women can make up their face but [until now] they cannot make up their body

Company spokesman Makoto Suzuki

A T-shirt made out of fibre - called V-up - would have the equivalent vitamin content of two lemons and remain effective after 30 washes.

Company spokesman Makoto Suzuki says the product is aimed at women who are interested in skin care.

Lace underwear

"Women can make up their face but they cannot make up their body," he told the BBC's East Asia Today programme.

"We are trying to develop other vitamins also."

The company also produces fibres with anti-odour and anti-bacterial properties derived from catechin, a substance extracted from the shells of crabs and shrimp.

The T-shirts should be on sale early in 2002. There are also plans for vitamin-enhanced lace underwear.