What is the primary role of pancreatic enzymes?

• A. Decrease appetite
• B. Promote fat-free diet
• C. Increase insulin production
• D. Increase absorption and decrease steatorrhea

Answer: (D)

Pancreatic enzymes are secreted into the small intestine to digest fats, proteins, and carbohydrates so the nutrients can be absorbed. When fat digestion is efficient, steatorrhea (fat in the stool) is reduced and absorption improves. That is why the primary role described is to increase absorption and decrease steatorrhea. The other options don’t fit this function: enzymes don’t directly reduce appetite, they don’t promote a fat-free diet (they enable fat digestion, not avoidance), and they don’t increase insulin production (that’s an endocrine function, not an exocrine one).