THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LIVER IN CARBOHYDRATE METABOLISM

The liver is the main organ in the cells of which biochemical transformations of the products of the digestive hydrolysis of carbohydrates occur and their conversion into glucose — a form available to the cells of the body. The liver is a depot of carbohydrates, since part of the glucose is stored here in the form of glycogen. The liver maintains blood glucose at a constant level — this is the glucostatic function of the liver. With an excess of glucose in the liver, glycogen synthesis from glucose occurs — glycogenesis. After eating a carbohydrate-rich meal, the glycogen content can be up to 8% of the liver weight.