Celiac Disease Is an Autoimmune Disorder Which Destroys the Microvilli

Multiple Choice

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder which destroys the microvilli of the small intestine. Vitamin B12 can be absorbed by passive diffusion across the microvilli of the small intestine. Consider a patient who has had 10% of their microvilli destroyed. If the concentration of vitamin B is 0.6 pg/ml inside the lumen of the small intestine and 0.3 pg/ml on the inside of an epithelial cell, how is the diffusion rate of vitamin B altered in this patient?

A) It is reduced by 10%.
B) It is reduced by .003%.
C) It is increased by 10%.
D) It is reduced by .3%.
E) It is increased by .3%.