Villi are small projections that line the inside of the small intestine. The villi are covered in even smaller hair-like projections called microvilli, which increase the surface area of the small intestine. The villi and microvilli function to absorb nutrients from digested food into cells. Celiac disease is a condition in which the villi that line the small intestine are damaged and may disappear as a result of an adverse reaction to gluten. Predict how a reduction in the number of villi and microvilli in the small intestine would affect the rate of absorption of nutrients.