ISSA Nutritionist Practice Exam

What role does the pancreas play in the digestion of protein?

1. It produces bile for fat digestion

2. It secretes protease and releases trypsin

3. It absorbs nutrients directly into the bloodstream

4. It stores undigested proteins

The correct answer is: It secretes protease and releases trypsin

The pancreas plays a critical role in protein digestion primarily through the secretion of proteolytic enzymes, which include trypsin. The pancreas synthesizes these enzymes in their inactive forms to prevent them from digesting the pancreas itself, and they are activated in the small intestine where they help break down dietary proteins into smaller peptides and amino acids. Trypsin specifically is crucial for cleaving peptide bonds in proteins, allowing for the further breakdown by other enzymes into absorbable units. This process is essential for nutrient absorption because, without proper digestion, proteins would remain in larger, unusable forms that the body cannot absorb. This function of the pancreas is distinct from the roles of bile (which is produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder, primarily for fat digestion), the absorption of nutrients (a function of the intestines), and the storage of undigested proteins (which does not occur as undigested proteins are typically further broken down in the digestive tract). Therefore, the secretion of proteases and the activation of trypsin by the pancreas are foundational to efficient protein digestion.