Tuesday, February 06, 2007

What is Glycogen?

Chemically, glycogen is a branched glucose polymer, i.e. a type of starch. About 300 g of glycogen is stored in the muscles, though this amount can increase fivefold with physical training coupled with proper nutrition. Muscle glycogen is the primary energy source during exercise. The glycogen store in human liver is about 90 g and is involved in the hormonal control of the blood sugar. Because glycogen is a carbohydrate, it contains water, making it a large and weighty molecule. Such a large molecule is unsustainable for long-term energy storage (as opposed to fat). The 70 Kg "reference man" stores only an 18-hour resting fuel supply as glycogen (or 90 minutes of exercise), compared to a 2 months' supply of fat (or 4 marathons back to back).

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