Why does irreversible damage to the pancreas hinder efficient intestinal lipid digestion in cystic fibrosis patients?

💡 Explanation

Cystic fibrosis affects the pancreas, impairing its ability to secrete pancreatic lipase into the small intestine because the CFTR protein dysfunction leads to thickened secretions. Therefore, lipid digestion is hindered due to insufficient enzyme availability, rather than changes in enterocytes, transit time, or bile salt reabsorption.

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