How does the digestive system develop in infants?
What will be an ideal response?
A healthy digestive system is necessary to support adequate nutrition. It takes up to six months for the infant gastrointestinal tract to mature, and the time required is variable among infants. During the third trimester, the fetus swallows amniotic fluid, and this stimulates the lining of the intestine to grow and mature. At birth, the healthy newborn's digestive system is sufficiently mature to digest fats, protein, and simple sugars and to absorb fats and amino acids. Although healthy newborns do not have the same levels of digestive enzymes or rate of gastric emptying as older infants, the gut is functional at birth. After birth and through early infancy, the coordination of peristalsis within the gastrointestinal tract improves. Infants may have conditions that reflect the immaturity of the gut. Such conditions do not usually interfere with the ability of the intestinal villi to absorb nutrients, and typically do not hinder growth.
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Answer the following statement true (T) or false (F)
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