Compare and contrast glycogen metabolism in the liver fastin

Compare and contrast glycogen metabolism in the liver (fasting) to glycogen metabolism in the skeletal muscle (exercise) during fasting or exercise as indicated in parentheses.

Solution

During fasting low blood glucose or hypoglycaemia and high levels of ketone bodies are observed. Blood glucose is low durung fasting as liver doesn\'t have glycogen stores for generation of glucose. Due to inadequate glucose, ketone bodies are produced as an alternative fuel.

In low intensity exercise glycogen breakdown occurs very little where as in higher intensities the predominant glucose source is the breakdown of glycogen.