Which digestive condition directly impairs mineral absorption by requiring stomach acid to free mineral bonds?
Answer
Conditions reducing stomach acid (like achlorhydria)
Stomach acid plays a critical, though sometimes overlooked, role in preparing certain minerals for absorption later in the digestive tract. For minerals like iron and calcium, stomach acid is necessary to break the bonds holding them within the food matrix, effectively freeing the ions so they can be absorbed efficiently. Therefore, conditions that severely reduce stomach acid levels, such as chronic use of acid-reducing medications or pathological states like achlorhydria, can significantly impair the uptake of these specific minerals, regardless of whether anti-nutrients are present in the food itself.
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