Glycogen

Also known as:  Animal Dextran;  Animal Starch;  Hepatin;  Liver Starch

Glycogen is an Glucans Polysaccharide Carbohydrate consisting of branched chains of Glucose units.  It is the human counterpart of Starch in plants and resembles the Amylopectin component of plant Starch in chemical structure.

Metabolism

 Optimal Muscle Glycogen levels may facilitate optimal Athletic Performance.  ^[1]

 Optimal Glycogen levels generate Nerve Impulses that result in the suppression of Appetite.  ^[2]

 Glycogen is the principal form in which Carbohydrates (after their conversion to Glucose) are stored in the body (in the Liver and Muscles):

 When the body requires Energy, Glycogen is converted in the Liver and Muscles back to Glucose (Blood Sugar) which is then released into the bloodstream.

-           The body is limited in the amount of Glucose that it can store as Glycogen.  When the body's Glycogen stores are full, excess dietary Carbohydrates are converted to Adipose Tissue and Cholesterol (by the ATP-Citrate Lyase enzyme).

 Glycogen comprises 5% of the total weight of the Liver and 0.5% of the total weight of the body's Muscles.

Algae

 Spirulina is claimed to be the only known dietary source of pre-formed Glycogen.