Which of the following are examples of glycogenic compounds?

• A. Glucose, Fructose, Maltose
• B. Sucrose, Sorbitol, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol
• C. Cellulose, Starch, Amylose
• D. Water, Ethanol, Methanol

Answer: (B)

Glycogenic (glucogenic) compounds are substances that can be converted into glucose in the body through gluconeogenesis or related metabolic pathways. Sucrose, sorbitol, glycerin, and propylene glycol all feed glucose production in the liver or other tissues.

Sucrose is split into glucose and fructose; glucose directly contributes to blood glucose, and fructose can be converted to glucose via hepatic metabolism, making the pair glycogenic overall.

Sorbitol (glucitol) is oxidized to fructose, which then enters pathways that lead to glucose formation, so it is glycogenic.

Glycerin (glycerol) is converted to dihydroxyacetone phosphate, an intermediate of glycolysis, and can be used to generate glucose via gluconeogenesis.

Propylene glycol is metabolized to pyruvate (through lactate) and can enter gluconeogenesis to form glucose.

Water, ethanol, and methanol do not contribute to net glucose formation in humans (ethanol metabolism can actually inhibit gluconeogenesis), so they are not considered glycogenic.

Thus, the substances that are glycogenic are sucrose, sorbitol, glycerin, and propylene glycol.