The liver has an important role in regulating the amount of glucose in the body. Your body needs to keep glucose levels in the blood within a certain range to ensure that their is enough energy for all cells without allowing glucose levels to get too high. Changes in glucose levels can affect the liver's function both indirectly and directly.
Glucose and Hormone Levels
The liver indirectly responds to changes in glucose levels due to the effects of hormones secreted by the pancreas. When insulin levels are very high, the pancreas makes more of a hormone called insulin, which helps the body remove some of the excess glucose from the blood. Low levels of glucose, however, stimulate the production of glucagon by the pancreas, Endocrine Web explains. Glucagon stimulates the organs, including the liver, to release stored glucose.
Insulin and Liver Function
When glucose levels rise, the increased amount of insulin causes the liver to store more glucose. The liver stores glucose in the form of glycogen, which is a carbohydrate made out of many glucose molecules, Colorado State explains. Increases in insulin levels activate enzymes which trap glucose within the liver. When insulin is produced in response to high blood glucose levels, it also activates the enzymes that the liver uses to store glucose. Conversely, increased levels of glucagon cause the liver to break down glycogen and release the extra glucose into the bloodstream.
Direct Effects of Glucose
Glucose can also directly affect the liver, the Department of Food Science at Ohio State University notes. The liver has proteins that transport glucose into the liver that have a very high affinity for glucose. That means that increased glucose levels in the blood can cause increased levels of glucose in the liver even before insulin has been secreted. Thus, the ability of the liver to store glucose in the form of glycogen is directly impacted by glucose levels.
Glucose and Liver Disease
Glucose may also play a role in the development of a condition known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. According to LiverDisease.com, if the liver does not respond well to insulin, blood glucose levels will stay high. This causes more insulin to be produced; the elevated insulin levels can cause the body to store more fats in the liver, resulting in the liver becoming larger and filled with triglycerides, a type of fat. As a result, glucose can result in the liver becoming fatty.
