Why can't insulin be given orally to diabetic patients?
- Because of structural variation
- Its bioavailability will be increased
- Human body will elicit strong immune response
- It will be digested in Gastro-Intestinal (GI) tract
Answer
(4) It will be digested in Gastro-Intestinal (GI) tract
Solution
Insulin is a protein (polypeptide) hormone.
If taken orally, it is digested by the proteolytic enzymes (pepsin, trypsin, etc.) of the gastro-intestinal tract into amino acids before it can reach the blood.
Hence insulin is given by injection, not orally.
Answer: (4)