The liver is the largest organ of the human body and one of the most complex due to the wide range of functions it serves. Part of the digestive system, the liver works closely with the pancreas to ensure proper body function including control of sugar from consumption of carbohydrates. When you eat carbs, digestion releases sugar. The liver then takes over and retains any excess carbs you consume.
Liver Function
The liver serves several vital functions, making it the workhorse of the body. One of its primary roles is to filter toxins from the blood. It produces numerous essential compounds including cholesterol, clotting factors so blood can clot properly and certain proteins found in plasma. The liver also regulates several chemicals in the body including amino acids for protein production. It assists in metabolism through the production of bile and the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins like vitamins A, D and E.
Sugar Storage
The liver shares in the function of energy storage with carbohydrates. Carbohydrates provide one of the main sources of energy for the body. Because every cell requires fuel, your body stores this precious commodity in the liver and muscles in a form of sugar called glycogen. Excess carbohydrates in your diet end up as glycogen. Your body maintains these stores of sugar so that it has a source of energy should you use up the circulating sugar in your bloodstream.
Hormonal Control
Hormones of the pancreas control the liver and storage of excess carbohydrates. When you eat foods or beverages containing carbohydrates, your pancreas releases insulin in response to the elevated glucose levels caused by digestion of these nutrients. The purpose is to maintain normal blood sugar levels and to trigger sugar storage by the liver. The stored sugars can be tapped when blood sugar levels drop by the release of another hormone of the pancreas called glucagon. Glucagon stimulates the chemical reactions necessary to convert stored sugar to a useable form.
Complications
In some individuals, proper functioning of the liver for excess carbohydrate storage may be impaired due to inadequate production or resistance to the effects of insulin. Diabetics must monitor their blood sugar with medication and diet because sugar stays in the bloodstream rather than being stored by the liver and muscles. While sugar is vital for life, abnormally high levels, or hyperglycemia, pose serious health risks, especially if left untreated. The relationship between the pancreas and the liver shows the complex nature of carbohydrate metabolism in the body.
References
- USC Liver Transplant Program and Center for Liver Disease: About Your Liver
- Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford: Anatomy and Function of the Liver
- Merck Manual Home Edition; Carbohydrates, Proteins, and Fats; Margaret-Mary G. Wilson; July 2008
- Elmhurst College: Glycogen
- Colorado State University Extension; Glucagon; R. Bowen; June 15, 1999
- American Diabetes Association: Hyperglycemia (High Blood Glucose)
