What happens to protein during digestion?

The digestion of protein primarily involves breaking it down into amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins. This process begins in the stomach, where enzymes like pepsin start to break down protein structures into smaller peptides. As digestion continues in the small intestine, these peptides are further broken down by additional enzymes into individual amino acids.

Once proteins are digested into amino acids, they can be absorbed into the bloodstream and used by the body for various functions, such as repairing tissues, synthesizing new proteins, and supporting metabolic processes. This makes the answer focusing on the breakdown into amino acids the correct one, as it accurately reflects the biological process that occurs during protein digestion.