What is glycogen? Functions and significance of glycogen in muscles and liver, as well as methods to replenish its reserves

Glycogen belongs to a group of polysaccharides (multi-sugar) of which one molecule is composed of about 100 000 residues of D-glucose linked together in a complex chain.

We distinguish between the two types of glycogen liver and muscle. The liver can store up to 70 times more glycogens in the liver cells, but because of the large amount of skeletal muscle, they are the largest glycogenic storage in the human body about three-quarters of the total glycogeen content in the body is in the muscle tissue.

Glycogenosis is one of the hereditary metabolic disorders associated with glycogen retinal diseases. It is caused by an abnormality in the functioning of enzymes involved in the conversion of glucose into glycogens and vice versa.

Glycogen performs one basic function in the body it is a reserve of energy which is used as the body needs for energy expenditure purposes. It is a systemic reserve of carbohydrates which is depleted when blood glucose levels decrease and the availability of this sugar to individual tissues and organs decreases. What is important, muscle glycogen is an energy reserve only for musculoskeletal cells, while the material stored in the intestine supplies energy to red blood cells and nerve cells which are unable to use it as fatty acids.

In the process of glycogen resuscitation, not only is adequate carbohydrate replenishment important after a few hours, but also after a couple of hours. The main factor in reducing muscle glycgen reserves is physical exertion, so after exercise or any other form of activity it is necessary to take special care to supplement the body's energy reserves. The second step is to ensure that the body maintains its energy reserves after training or other forms of activity.