Skip to ContentGo to accessibility page
OpenStax Logo
Nutrition for Nurses

Chapter Summary

Nutrition for NursesChapter Summary

Chapter Summary

  • The gastrointestinal system has four main functions: ingestion, digestion, absorption, and metabolization.
  • The small intestine handles 90% of nutrient and water absorption.
  • The duodenum is the site for iron absorption and some vitamin B9 (folate) absorption, but the major site for vitamin B9 absorption is the jejunum.
  • Minerals and vitamins A, D, E, and K are absorbed by the small intestine.
  • The last segment of the small intestine, the ileum, is responsible for the absorption of bile salts and vitamin B12 (cobalamin).
  • The large intestine has three main functions in digestion overall: absorption of the remaining water and electrolytes, absorption and production of vitamins, and formation and movement of feces to the rectum for elimination.
  • The first portion of the large intestine, the ascending colon, removes any remaining water and key nutrients from the indigestible material that passes through it, while solidifying this waste to form stool.
  • The nutritional plan for clients with gastrointestinal diseases will include supplementation and higher nutritional intake levels than for a healthy client.
  • Challenges to nutritional goals include malabsorption, food allergies, comorbidities, and side effects of the gastrointestinal disease processes.
PreviousNext
Order a print copy
Citation/Attribution
Reuse and redistribution of this content in digital or print format:
  • This book may not be used in the training of large language models or otherwise be ingested into large language models or generative AI offerings without OpenStax's prior written permission.
  • This book uses the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License, which means that you can reuse and modify the material only for noncommercial purposes, must attribute OpenStax, and must distribute any derivative works under the same license.
  • Any commercial printing of this textbook, including using a local or custom printer, must be approved by OpenStax, and proper citation provided.
  • OpenStax-copyrighted images, activities, assessments, and similar components of this book are subject to the same licensing – CC-BY-NC-SA. They can be used for noncommercial purposes with attribution. Commercial use requires permission.
  • Permission requests: Anyone who intends to incorporate this content (including text, images, and other components) into large language models, use it in AI offerings, use it commercially (including in print), and/or has questions about another use case is welcome to complete our reuse request form.
Attribution information
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a noncommercial print format, then you must include on every physical page the following attribution:

    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/nutrition/pages/1-introduction

  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a noncommercial digital format, then for every page that includes OpenStax content, you must license the derivative work under the same CC-BY-NC-SA license as the original, and include on every digital page view the following attribution:

    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/nutrition/pages/1-introduction

Citation information

The information below includes the information needed to generate citations in most major styles (APA, MLA, etc.); you must reformat and organize the information as needed to fit the requirements of the style. Use the information below to generate a citation. We recommend using a citation tool such as this one.

© Apr 23, 2026 OpenStax. Textbook content produced by OpenStax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License. The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book covers, OpenStax CNX name, and OpenStax CNX logo, and Rice University name, and Rice University logo trademarks, or wordmarks are not subject to the Creative Commons license and may not be reproduced without the prior and express written consent of Rice University.