why is insulin not taken orally

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Solution

Insulin is not taken orally because it will be digested before it enters the blood stream. As insulin is a protein hormone (peptide hormone) if given orally it might gets reduced to fragments i.e. into amino acid or peptones etc by the action of various enzymes
whereupon its all activity will be lost. Moreover the acidic condition of the stomach might denature it chemically. So it is injected directly into the blood.

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Similar questions

Study the diagram given below and then answer the questions that follow :

(a) Name the cells of the pancreas that produce (1) glucagon (2) insulin.

(b) State the main function of (1) glucagon and (2) insulin.

(d) Why is insulin not given orally but is injected into the body ?

(e) What is the technical term for the cells of the pancreas that produce endocrine hormones ?

(f) Where in the body is the pancreas located ?

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