| | Category | BI | L08 | Effect of Various Antacids on the Digestion of Protein in Humans |
| | Abstract | In order for protein to break down during the digestive process in humans, |
| | pepsin, an enzyme in the stomach, must be activated. This activation |
| | occurs at a pH level between 1 and 4. While hydrochloric acid provides |
| | the acidic environment in the stomach, pepsin breaks down the |
| | polypeptide bonds in the protein for digestion. However, antacids are used |
| | to soothe heartburns or upset stomachs by neutralizing the acid in the |
| | stomach, but make the break down of protein more difficult. The purpose |
| | of my experiment is to demonstrate which brand of antacid will most affect |
| | the digestion of protein. To test the effect of antacids, I created a solution |
| | similar to the stomach using hydrochloric acid and pepsin. I used pH paper |
| | to test the solution for a pH level of 1, an ideal pH level in the stomach. I |
| | then added albumin (protein in egg whites) and tested the pH level and the |
| | amount of protein not broken down in the solution at consistent time |
| | intervals using a spectrophotometer. This solution without antacids was |
| | the control. In a separate beaker, I recreated the same solution, but after |
| | adding the albumin, I also added an antacid and tested the amount of |
| | protein and pH level at the same intervals as the control. The antacids |
| | used were Tums, Maalox, Pepto-Bismol, and Rolaids. |
| | Bibliography | http://biology.clc.uc.edu/courses/Bio115/pepsin.htm |