D-ribose is a simple sugar that the body uses to manufacture a number of important substances such as DNA, RNA and hormones. D-ribose is also a major building block for many chemicals vital for the production of energy by the mitochondria within the cells; these chemicals include NADH, FADH, co-enzyme A, and most importantly ATP which is commonly referred to as the body's 'energy currency'. Every cell uses ATP as its source of energy. Without sufficient D-ribose in the cells ATP cannot be synthesised, and without ATP the body's energy pool cannot be restored.
The body can manufacture new ATP rapidly when D-ribose is supplied. Studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of D-ribose supplementation in heart disease patients since it rapidly increases the energy available to the heart muscle. D-ribose is also of interest in sports medicine since it may improve recovery times in athletes. Like the heart, the skeletal muscles also require vast amounts of energy which D-ribose helps to supply in the form of new ATP.
A number of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) specialists including Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, Dr. Sarah Myhill, and Dr. Paul Cheney use D-ribose with their patients. CFS patients have been shown to have poor cardiac (heart) output and mitochondrial dysfunction. Essentially CFS patients are energy deficient and D-ribose is one way to help the body maintain its supply of energy at optimum levels. Dr. Teitelbaum found in a recent study that D-ribose improved patients' energy by an average of 45%. Mitochondrial dysfunction and low energy/fatigue are a feature of the majority of conditions covered on this site so future research and experience may show that D-ribose is useful in these illnesses too.
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