Synthesis of glycogen

Glycogen is a complex carbohydrate consisting of glucose molecules connected by a chain.

Synthesis of glycogen (glycogenesis) occurs within 1-2 hours after the ingestion of carbohydrate food. The most intensive synthesis of glycogen takes place in the liver. In addition, glycogen is synthesized in skeletal muscles.

One molecule of glycogen includes about one million glucose residues. This fact indicates that the body spends a lot of energy on the production of glycogen.

Decomposition of glycogen

The decomposition of glycogen (glycogenolysis) occurs during periods between meals. At this time, the liver cleaves the glycogen in it at a certain rate, which allows the body to keep the concentration of glucose in the blood at an unchanged level.

The biological role of glycogen

Glucose is the main energy material for the body, supporting its basic functions. The liver stores glucose in the form of glycogen, not so much for its own needs, as to provide an inflow of glucose to other tissues - mainly red blood cells and the brain.

As mentioned above, muscle cells, like liver cells, are also able to convert glucose into glycogen. However, glycogen, contained in muscles, is spent only on muscle work. In other words, glycogen in muscles remains a source of glucose only for the cell itself, while glycogen stored in the liver, after processing into glucose, is spent on nutrition of the whole organism, and most importantly on maintaining the proper glucose concentration in the blood.

Synthesis and decomposition of glycogen

Synthesis and decomposition of glycogen are regulated by the nervous system and hormones. These are two independent processes that take place in different ways. As we have already seen, the main role of glycogen is the regulation of the concentration of glucose in the blood, as well as the creation of that glucose reserve, which is necessary for intensive muscular work.