Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) Practice Exam

What role do antibiotics play in the body?

1. They are used to digest food

2. They act as blood proteins required for an immune response

3. They help in the absorption of nutrients

4. They are only used to treat viral infections

The correct answer is: They act as blood proteins required for an immune response

The correct answer is that antibiotics act as blood proteins required for an immune response, which is not accurate in this context. Antibiotics are actually substances used to combat bacterial infections and do not function as blood proteins. They work by inhibiting the growth of bacteria or killing them directly, thereby helping the immune system fight off bacterial infections. In the context of the other options, antibiotics do not aid in digestion, nutrient absorption, or treat viral infections. Digestion is facilitated by enzymes, not antibiotics. Nutrients are absorbed through the intestinal walls into the bloodstream, a process that does not involve antibiotics. Furthermore, antibiotics specifically target bacteria and are ineffective against viruses, which are responsible for infections such as the common cold or influenza. Thus, stating that they are only used to treat viral infections is misleading, as their primary function is geared towards bacterial infections.