Glycogen metabolism in humans.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review of biochemical and physiological mechanisms with no primary human data
PubMed 27051594 · doi:10.1016/j.bbacli.2016.02.001
What was done
This is a narrative review describing the pathways, key regulatory enzymes, tissue distribution, and physiological roles of glycogen synthesis and degradation in humans, as well as the etiology of glycogen storage diseases.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical data or quantitative outcomes. It describes the enzymatic cascade of glycogen synthesis (transporters, phosphorylation, UDP-glucose formation, glycogenin, glycogen synthase, and branching enzyme) and glycogenolysis (glycogen phosphorylase, debranching enzyme, lysosomal α-glucosidase, and glucose 6-phosphatase). It notes glycogen accumulates postprandially in liver and post-exercise in muscle, while functions in other tissues (brain, heart, kidney, adipose, erythrocytes) and the human roles of laforin and malin remain largely unknown.
Why it matters
It provides a foundational overview of human glycogen metabolism and the enzymatic basis for associated genetic storage disorders.
Limits
The abstract describes a non-systematic narrative review containing no original experimental data, sample sizes, or quantitative statistical results.
Cited by
- supports Muscle glycogen is used locally by muscles during exercise and is not released into the bloodstream for use by the rest of the body.