Question

A man sits down to eat a large steak. Concerned about heartburn, he takes several antacid tablets before eating so as to neutralize his stomach acid.
Which of the following may result from this action?

• A. Increased chemical digestion of the protein in the steak by the stomach.
• B. Decreased absorption of the protein in the steak by the small intestines.
• C. An increase in the peristaltic actions of the mans digestive tract.
• D. Increased urine production by the man's kidneys.

Answer 1

The correct option is B Decreased absorption of the protein in the steak by the small intestines.

• Digestion typically begins in the stomach when pepsinogen is converted to pepsin by the action of hydrochloric acid. And continued by trypsin and chymotrypsin in the small intestine.
• Before the absorption in the small intestine, most proteins are already reduced to single amino acid or peptides of several amino acids. Hence, he takes several antacid tablets before eating so as to neutralize his stomach acid.
  

So, the correct answer is 'Decreased absorption of the protein in the steak by the small intestines'.