Which of the following is increased in Jeska’s case, considering that the food she consumes tends to sit in her stomach due to her gastroparesis? a. Transit time b. Appetite c. Bioavailability d. Gastric emptying What nutrients are the only ones that Jeska’s stomach is able to absorb from her food in any significant quantity? a. Protein and calcium b. Fat and carbohydrates c. Alcohol and water d. Vitamin B12 and iron What is secreted only by the stomach in order to aid digestion? a. Bile
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:1
For the first question, the correct answer is:
- a. Transit time
Gastroparesis is a condition where the stomach’s motility (its ability to move food through the digestive system) is impaired. This causes food to remain in the stomach longer than normal, increasing the transit time. This delayed stomach emptying can lead to symptoms like nausea, bloating, and fullness.
Explanation: In normal digestion, food moves from the stomach to the small intestine within a certain timeframe. However, with gastroparesis, this movement slows down or stops altogether, prolonging the process. The transit time increases, meaning the food stays in the stomach much longer than usual, contributing to discomfort and possibly poor nutrient absorption.
For the second question, the correct answer is:
- c. Alcohol and water
In individuals with gastroparesis, the stomach may not efficiently break down and absorb nutrients from food. However, certain substances like alcohol and water can still be absorbed directly into the bloodstream in the stomach because they don’t require extensive digestion.
Explanation: Since gastroparesis slows down the stomach’s emptying process, nutrients from food often aren’t absorbed properly. However, smaller molecules like alcohol and water can pass through the stomach lining and enter the bloodstream relatively quickly without needing the stomach to break them down. As a result, even with gastroparesis, these nutrients can still be absorbed in significant quantities.
For the third question, the correct answer is:
- a. Bile
Bile is a digestive fluid produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. It helps to break down fats in the small intestine but is not secreted by the stomach. The stomach primarily secretes gastric acid (HCl), enzymes like pepsin, and mucus to aid digestion.
Explanation: The stomach itself doesn’t produce bile. Instead, bile is secreted by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. The stomach’s role in digestion is mainly to break down food mechanically and chemically, with the help of gastric juices (acid and enzymes). These juices play a significant role in digesting proteins, but bile is not part of the stomach’s secretions.
