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About D Ribose

D ribose, also written as D-ribose, is a naturally occurring organic compound. It is the backbone of RNA (ribonucleic acid), which is responsible for genetic transcription (the process by which genetic material is exchanged). D-ribose is a carbohydrate and is therefore a good source of energy for the body. Because it is involved in many metabolic processes, research is being conducted to determine how D-ribose can be used as a supplement to treat various conditions.

  1. Chemical Description

    • D-ribose is a monosaccharide, or simple sugar. It is a pentose, meaning it contains five carbon atoms. It can occur in an acyclic form (straight) or a cyclic form (see picture). The addition of a phosphate group (PO4), also known as phosphorylation, makes D-ribose usable as energy by the cells.

    Athletes

    • Because D-ribose is an excellent source of energy, it is often taken by athletes as a supplement. It is known that during high intensity exercise, ATP is depleted in the heart and skeletal muscles. Since D-ribose is used to synthesize nucleotides, the building blocks of ATP, it is theorized that supplementation with D-ribose will increase the rate at which ATP is restored and therefore increase energy. Although d-ribose is an important molecule for physiological functions, there is no concrete evidence that it is effective in increasing or restoring energy for athletes.

    Heart Patients

    • Patients with a condition called Myocardial Ischemia, or reduced blood flow and therefore oxygen to the heart, experience chest pain and discomfort and are at increased risk for a heart attack. The ability of the heart's cells to contract and therefore move oxygenated blood through is dependent upon the amount of adenosine triphosphate (ADP) available.
      Ischemia lowers the level of ADP, but the stores of ADP can be replenished by the pre-cursor phosphoribosyl-pyrophosphate (PRPP). D-ribose accelerates the production of PRPP, which therefore increases the level of ADP, which in turn restores contractile function to the heart cells and reduces the ischemia. Studies confirm that in resting ischemia, d-ribose is effective, but in stress-induced ischemia, more studies need to be conducted (see Resources below).

    Other Uses

    • Researchers are studying d-ribose for its effectiveness in treating fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. An initial pilot study found that 66 percent of patients experienced significant decrease in their symptom categories including energy, sleep, mental clarity, pain intensity and well-being (as published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in November 2006).

    Safety

    • D-ribose is considered safe to take as a supplement at the recommended dosages. There are no known side effects. For those patients with diabetes, the effect on blood sugar has not been studied. Therefore, consult your doctor and monitor your blood sugar levels while taking it.

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