When did Claude Bernard discover glycogen in the liver?

Claude Bernard discovered glycogen—a white, starchy substance stored in the liver—in 1856.1

This finding was a landmark in his research, as it demonstrated that the body is capable of building complex molecules from simpler ones, such as sugar. By storing these carbohydrates and breaking them down as needed, the liver helps maintain a constant level of sugar in the blood, a process that serves as a key example of homeostasis.1