Our body's 'Power Bank': Let's simply learn about Glycogen

Have you ever wondered how our bodies get the energy they need when we go without eating for a while, or when we exercise hard? Just like we keep a power bank in our phone to use when the battery runs out, our bodies also have a reserve of energy that we can use in an emergency. That's what we call glycogen in medical terms. This is a very important part of our body's energy management.

What is glycogen, simply put?

Simply put, glycogen is a form of glucose stored in our body. Now you may be wondering what glucose is. Glucose is a type of sugar . Our body gets glucose from the food we eat, especially foods containing carbohydrates ( starch ) (like rice, bread, potatoes). This glucose is the main fuel that provides energy to the cells in our body.

Imagine, after we eat a meal, our blood contains more glucose than it needs. So what does the body do? It takes this excess glucose and stores it in a package that can be used later. That large package, made up of thousands of glucose molecules bound together, is called glycogen.

This process occurs in two ways:

1. Glycogenesis: The process of taking excess glucose in the blood and storing it as glycogen.

2. Glycogenolysis : When our body needs energy, it breaks down stored glycogen, converts it back into glucose, and releases it into the blood.

It is because these two processes occur precisely that our body receives energy when it needs it and is protected from unnecessary increases in blood sugar levels .

Where is this energy store?

Glycogen is stored mainly in our liver and skeletal muscles , with small amounts also stored in the brain and other tissues.

Think of it this way, the liver can store a higher percentage of glycogen relative to its size. But because we have a large amount of muscle in our bodies, the majority (about three-fourths) of the total glycogen is stored in the muscles.

The amount of glycogen stored in your body depends on several factors:

• The amount of carbohydrates you eat.
• How much and how intense you exercise.
• The time gap between meals.
• Liver enzyme activity.

This storage process, called glycogenesis, is controlled by a hormone called insulin . When we eat, our blood glucose levels rise. Our pancreas then produces insulin, which signals our cells to store the excess glucose as glycogen.

Glycogen, glucose, and glucagon - what is the difference between these three?

Although these three names sound similar, their functions are different. To understand this difference clearly, see the table below.

There is a slight difference in the way glycogen is broken down in the liver and muscles. The liver breaks down glycogen to make glucose for the whole body to use. But the glucose that muscle glycogen makes can only be used by those muscles . The reason for this is that muscles need a lot of energy during exercise. If they pull glucose from the blood throughout the body, essential organs like the brain won't have enough glucose. So the muscles maintain their own energy stores.

Can I check my glycogen levels?

In fact, measuring glycogen levels directly is a bit complicated and not something that is usually done. Because this level changes constantly throughout the day depending on what we eat and drink and how much exercise we do. In special cases, if necessary, a doctor may take a small piece of tissue from the liver or muscle and examine it (this is called a biopsy ) to check glycogen levels.

But usually, doctors do simpler tests to see if there is a glucose-related problem.

• Blood tests to check blood glucose levels and liver and muscle function.
• An ultrasound scan of the liver to check for enlargement.
• Genetic tests are performed if there is suspicion of a hereditary disease.

On average, a healthy adult has about 600 grams of glycogen stored in their body. This can vary depending on a person's body size, diet, and exercise level.

Glycogen-related diseases

Glycogen Storage Disease (GSD) is a rare, inherited condition that impairs the ability to produce or break down glycogen. It is caused by a genetic defect. It occurs when the body lacks the enzymes needed for glycogen metabolism.

This can lead to either a dangerous buildup of glycogen in organs like the liver, or in some people, the body is unable to make glycogen at all. This can lead to various symptoms, such as muscle weakness.

Although there is no cure for GSD, treatment can control symptoms. There are enzyme replacement therapy for some breeds and cornstarch treatments for many breeds.

If you have any concerns about your blood sugar levels, lack of energy, or frequent muscle cramps, be sure to talk to your doctor about it.Talk to your doctor. It is more important to get accurate medical advice than to search for information on the internet.