Final answer:
Achlorhydria impacts the digestive process by impairing protein digestion due to a lack of hydrochloric acid, leading to potential nutritional deficiencies and reduced ability to kill pathogens in food.
Step-by-step explanation:
Achlorhydria is a condition where the stomach ceases to produce hydrochloric acid (HCl) and other secretions, which significantly impacts the digestive process. Hydrochloric acid is essential for the digestion of proteins, as it creates an acidic environment where the enzyme pepsin becomes active.
Pepsin breaks down proteins into smaller peptides, a crucial step in protein digestion. Without HCl, not only is protein digestion impaired, but the absorption of certain vitamins and minerals, such as Vitamin B12, is also affected. Moreover, the acidic pH of the stomach helps to kill pathogens in food, reducing the risk of infections.
Achlorhydria can thus lead to nutritional deficiencies, gastrointestinal infections, and digestion complications.