Does the PH level of acids in our stomach affect the digestion proteins? Yes, if the acidity in my/a stomach is high in terms of the PH balance then the proteins in our stomach will be digested faster because acids are known to breakdown and eat away at many objects. The purpose of this project was to observe how the digestion of protein varies at different pH levels. This project in my eyes helps society by finding the best types of food (i. e. ones with higher/ lower acidity and pH balance) to eat in order to have a healthy digestive system.
I tested this experiment question by * Placing albumin a protein into four test tubes for each of the seven-pH levels being used. * Then, the buffer solution for each pH level was placed into their respective tubes. * After a period of ten minutes, Ninhydrin Isopropanol was placed one of the tubes for each pH level. * As the pH level increased, the rate of digestion also increased rapidly. The fact that the pH and rate of digestion increased at the same scale inferred that the pH level in the “stomach” is very acidic and serves to denature proteins during digestion.
In all, my project was successful at proving if the pH balance of acidity affects digestion in our stomach. First, I set up four test tubes. Then a protein, albumin, was placed into the four test tubes for each of the seven pH levels being used. These test tubes with the chemical acted as a stomach with food (protein) inside. Afterwards, the buffer solution for each pH level was placed into their respective tubes. After a period of ten minutes, Ninhydrin Isopropanol was placed one of the tubes for each pH level.
This step was repeated every ten minutes. Then after being centrifuged, the solutions were observed for color change and the absorbance was recorded using a spectrophotometer at 580 nm. As the pH level increased, the rate of digestion also increased rapidly. From a high pH level the digestion was almost immediate. At lower pH levels, the rate of digestion was rather slow. Therefore the data given somewhat supported my hypothesis that “yes, protein is affected by pH level when it comes to digestion. However, as stated above the pH had a lot to do with the rate of digestion but in my hypothesis I thought that the rate of digestion was mainly from the acid intake. I feel that I would communicate my work to other scientists and even publish my project online if I were to retest my project with the same account and measurements multiple times to see if my work is constant or irregular. Ultimately my goal is for other scientist to trust and correctly use the information from my experiment.
I feel my results are useful to others in the real world to help people who suffer from digestion problems and overweight people. For, my experiment was able to correctly result in finding a rate in which pH levels of acidity increase digestion in protein. So this information could be used in dieting pills and health regimens. I would recommend for others who do this project to use more test tubes for the setting of the stomach in order to have all the levels of pH concentration tested more thoroughly. Over all, I would say this project was helpful for me to understand the way the stomach and digestion works.
