The liver makes glucose through two main processes: glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis.
Glycogenolysis: Breaking Down Glycogen
- The liver stores glucose in the form of glycogen. When blood sugar levels are low, the liver breaks down glycogen into glucose.
- This process is called glycogenolysis. It is a quick way to release glucose into the bloodstream. The reference states that the liver supplies glucose by turning glycogen into glucose in a process called glycogenolysis.
Gluconeogenesis: Manufacturing New Glucose
- When glycogen stores are depleted, the liver can manufacture glucose from other sources.
- This process is called gluconeogenesis.
- Gluconeogenesis uses:
- Amino acids
- Waste products
- Fat byproducts
- The reference explains that the liver can manufacture necessary sugar or glucose by harvesting amino acids, waste products, and fat byproducts. This is how the liver maintains blood glucose levels during fasting or prolonged exercise.
Therefore, the liver uses both glycogenolysis (breaking down stored glycogen) and gluconeogenesis (manufacturing glucose from other sources) to maintain blood sugar levels.
