protein digestion
Last reviewed 01/2018
The adult, western diet contains between 70-100 g/day of protein. Additionally, 50-100 g/day of protein may be released into the gut as dead cells and secretions. This cannot be absorbed directly; instead, digestion degrades dietary proteins to amino acids.
Protein digestion is considered here in terms of the function of different parts of the gastrointestinal tract:
- oral cavity
- stomach
- duodenum
- small intestine
oral cavity (protein digestion)