TREATMENT DATABASE
D-Ribose is a water-soluble simple sugar that is an important component of nucleic acids, vitamin B2, and various coenzymes.
Ribose is an extremely important sugar in that it comprises the backbone of RNA, one of the three major macromolecules essential to all forms of life. Ribose is also a component of ATP, NADH and several other compounds that control the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and fat.
USES IN ME/CFS. Mitochondrial defects that lead to low production of ATP, the principal source of cellular energy, have been documented in people with ME/CFS. Low levels of ATP can produce the hallmark symptoms of ME/CFS, exercise intolerance and fatigue. However, direct supplementation with ATP seems to have no effect on either fatigue or stamina. This is due to the fact that ATP has a molecular weight of more than 500, which means that it is nearly impossible to absorb. Therefore, the mitochondrial defects leading to low ATP production must be addressed at a lower level in the metabolic chain.
The body makes ATP through the Krebs cycle, in which various enzymes convert citric acid into ATP. These enzymes are often disrupted in people with ME/CFS, resulting in a lower production of ATP. The body can also make ATP from glucose, but the process involves first converting glucose into lactic acid, which then accumulates in the muscles, causing the familiar “burn” of over-exertion. This is also a longer and less efficient process than the Krebs cycle. D-Ribose cuts the time required to produce ATP because the body can quickly convert D-Ribose into ATP without converting it first into lactic acid.
In a 2006 pilot study, Teitelbaum et al found that in 36 ME/CFS/FM patients, 66% experienced improvement in energy, pain, sleep, mental clarity and overall well-being after treatment with D-Ribose. The average improvement in energy was 45%, while the global improvement was 30%. The researchers concluded that D-Ribose “significantly reduced symptoms in patients suffering from fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.”
| Rating | Side Effects | Reason for Treatment | Dosage / Duration | Age | Sex M/F | # of years Ill | Additional Comments | Illness Severity | Date Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 4 month 15 gramos 2X day | 58 | Male | 20 | Moderate | 09/16/19 | |||
| 1 | Low blood sugar. I felt shaky and that I had to eat. Didn't realize what caused it at first, but it was definitely the D-ribose. Might work for someone else, but not for me. | I heard good things about it and was eager to try something new. | 14 day 5 tsps 3X day | 43 | Male | 15 | Mild | 02/17/20 | |
| 2 | No side effects | To try it out | 3 month 4g 1X day | 34 | Male | 5 | Moderate | 09/29/20 | |
| 4 | Take with protein to avoid sugar rush or cravings. | Improve cognition | 1 year 5g 2X day | 59 | Female | 6 | Good improvement in game scores verified improvement. | Moderate/Severe | 04/28/21 |
| 4 | headaches with one brand (Pure Source Nutrition) No issues with Bulk (Powders).,Taking 20-25g/day made it hard to sleep | For moderately sever fatigue | 60 day 4g 3X day | 31 | Female | 9 | Tends not to work as well when I'm sleep deprived. Otherwise can notice the days I've not taken any. | Moderate/Severe | 01/24/23 |
| 4 | None | Read about positive effect in some ME patients | 4 year 5gram 1X day | 59 | Female | 28 | Find it expensive | Moderate/Severe | 02/03/23 |