Which of the following is a storage function of the liver?

• A. Synthetic
• B. Storage (ADEK, glycogen, iron)
• C. Detoxification (First pass by cytochrome P450, toxic NPNs)
• D. Secretory (Bile acids, bile salts)

Answer: (B)

Storing substances is one of the liver’s essential roles. It holds fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, providing a reservoir that can be drawn on as needed. It also stores glycogen, the stored form of glucose, which helps keep blood sugar stable during fasting. Iron is kept in stores such as ferritin, regulating its availability for processes like red blood cell production. These storage duties are separate from synthetic activities (making proteins like albumin and clotting factors), detoxification (metabolizing drugs and toxins via enzymes such as cytochrome P450), and secretory tasks (producing and releasing bile acids and bile salts).