Reduced Absorptive Surface Area in Ileum

Steps:

• Celiac disease flattens villi, reducing ileum's surface area for nutrient absorption.
• Ileum normally absorbs glucose and amino acids from digested food.
• Same food intake means same nutrient availability, but less surface area limits uptake.
• Lower absorption results in decreased glucose and amino acids entering hepatic portal vein.

Why C is correct:

• C states ileum absorbs glucose and amino acids, but reduced surface area impairs absorption, matching villi damage effect per intestinal physiology.

Why the others are wrong:

• A incorrectly implies full absorption despite surface area loss.
• B wrongly affirms normal absorption with reduced area.
• D misattributes absorption failure to non-surface area factors.

Final answer: C