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Multiple Choice
The digestion of which food group may be affected by an inadequate amount of stomach acid?
A
Nucleic acids
B
Proteins
C
Lipids
D
Carbohydrates
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the role of stomach acid (hydrochloric acid, HCl) in digestion: Stomach acid creates an acidic environment (pH ~1.5-3.5) that is essential for activating pepsinogen into pepsin, an enzyme responsible for protein digestion.
Review the digestion process for each food group: Proteins require pepsin for initial breakdown in the stomach, while carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids are primarily digested in the small intestine with the help of enzymes like amylase, lipase, and nucleases.
Analyze the impact of inadequate stomach acid: Without sufficient stomach acid, pepsinogen cannot be converted into pepsin, impairing the digestion of proteins. Other food groups (carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids) are less affected because their digestion relies on enzymes secreted by the pancreas and small intestine.
Correlate the physiological mechanism with the correct answer: Proteins are the food group most affected by low stomach acid due to their reliance on pepsin for initial digestion.
Conclude that the correct answer is 'Proteins' based on the dependency of protein digestion on stomach acid and pepsin activation.