Which one of the following statements regarding digestion is correct?

Digestion is the process of breaking down complex food components into simpler forms using biological catalysts called enzymes [3]. Fats (lipids) are primarily digested by lipases, which break down emulsified fats into fatty acids and glycerol [1]. While lingual and gastric lipases initiate this process, pancreatic lipase performs the bulk of fat digestion in the small intestine. Conversely, proteins are digested by proteases such as trypsin, chymotrypsin, and pepsin [1]. Starch and complex carbohydrates are broken down by amylases (salivary and pancreatic) into simple sugars like maltose and glucose [2]. Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) are digested by nucleases, such as ribonuclease and deoxyribonuclease, which break them into nucleotides. Therefore, the statement that fat is digested by lipases is the only correct option.

Sources

1. [2] Science , class X (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Life Processes > Activity 5.3 > p. 85
2. [3] Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 9: Life Processes in Animals > Table 9.1: Action of saliva on starch > p. 124
3. [1] Science , class X (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Life Processes > Activity 5.3 > p. 86