Dietary sugars, exercise and hepatic carbohydrate metabolism

Prolonged exercise at moderate-to-high intensity can lead to liver glycogen depletion, which may require carbohydrate ingestion to maintain blood glucose levels.

• Exercise enhances the use of glycogen throughout the body, making liver glycogen breakdown crucial for sustaining blood glucose.
• Without carbohydrate intake during prolonged exercise, liver glycogen stores can become depleted.
• An exercise-induced glycogen deficit may improve insulin sensitivity and blood glucose regulation while reducing liver fat production.
• Targeting glycogen deficits through carbohydrate restriction may benefit metabolic health in overweight or sedentary individuals.
• Fructose-containing sugars can significantly accelerate liver glycogen replenishment post-exercise, potentially reducing recovery time by up to 50% compared to glucose-only sources.
• Athletes engaged in repeated exertion should consider fructose for faster recovery between events.

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