Glycogen

Fundamentals of glycogen metabolism for coaches and athletes

The ability of athletes to train day after day depends in large part on adequate restoration of muscle glycogen stores, a process that requires the consumption of sufficient dietary carbohydrates and ample time.

Glycogen – Your Muscle’s Best Friend

Put simply: glycogen is stored glucose (sugar) – a main source of energy for your body. Your body stores single glucose molecules by branching them together to form a larger molecule that can later be broken down when energy is needed.

Sweet! How glycogen is linked to heat generation in fat cells

Unlike in muscle and liver, the role of glycogen in fat has been a mystery. The researchers discovered that glycogen does much more than simply store energy in fat cells. It provides a signal that produces a major shift in how energy is handled.

The dynamic life of the glycogen granule

Glycogen, the primary storage form of glucose, is a rapid and accessible form of energy that can be supplied to tissues on demand. Each glycogen granule, or “glycosome,” is considered an independent metabolic unit composed of a highly branched polysaccharide and various proteins involved in its metabolism.

Stored Energy, Part 1: Glycogen

During digestion, carbohydrates are broken down into glucose... The extra gets stored. Glycogen and fat are the body’s two main storage tanks.