Clinical Nutritionist Practice Test 2025 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

Enzymes are crucial to the digestive process because they serve as biological catalysts that accelerate chemical reactions in the body. Specifically, during digestion, enzymes help break down complex food molecules into simpler forms that the body can absorb and utilize. For instance, different types of enzymes work on carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, converting them into sugars, amino acids, and fatty acids, respectively. This process is essential for nutrient absorption, allowing the body to effectively utilize the food consumed.

Unlike the other options, which suggest roles that enzymes do not fulfill in digestion, it’s critical to highlight that enzymes do not slow down reactions or get absorbed as nutrients themselves. Instead, they facilitate the breakdown of food and then remain in the digestive tract to catalyze further reactions until they are no longer needed. Enzymes also do not transport nutrients in the bloodstream; instead, once the nutrients are broken down, they are absorbed into the bloodstream and transported by other mechanisms. Therefore, the primary function of enzymes in the digestive system is to increase the efficiency and speed of chemical reactions involved in breaking down food.