The pain, fatigue and depression associated with fibromyalgia can sometimes improve but often worsen and become chronic for months or years. Approximately 34 percent of fibromyalgia patients spend between $100 and $1,000 monthly above their insurance in hopes of finding relief for their symptoms, according to the National Fibromyagia Association. Prescription medications can help but are often expensive, which is why patients turn to supplements like ribose for help.
Identification
Ribose, sometimes called D-ribose, is a type of carbohydrate your body needs to manufacture adenosine triphosphate, ATP, the primary energy source for your cells. Ribose supplements are marketed to athletes to improve performance and exercise capacity, although research doesn't support all these claims. Ribose is also said to benefit heart patients through replenishing low ATP levels.
Expert Insight
Ribose supplements may be helpful in improving some of the debilitating symptoms of fibromyalgia through boosting energy, impoving sleep, benefiting mental clarity and helping control pain. Research published in 2006 in the "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine," JACM, found that 66 percent of patients in a pilot study experienced significant improvement in their symptoms after taking ribose. A 2009 article in the same journal showed that ribose supplements helped reduce fatigue in older adults, further qualifying ribose's potential in fighting fibromyalgia fatigue. Many patients with fibromyalgia suffer from restless leg syndrome. A 2008 JACM article reported that ribose was able to reduce the severity and onset of restless leg symptoms in two patients.
Recommendations
In the 2006 study, fibromyalgia subjects were given D-ribose at a dose of 5 g three times a day. The study involving older patients with fatigue used 3 g twice daily, while the restless leg study administered 5 g doses daily, first in one dose at breakfast, then spread throughout the day at meals. If you take ribose as a sports supplement, manufacturers typically recommend a daily dosage of 1 g to 10 g.
Considerations
There are no known reports of serious or chronic side effects from ribose but there is a lack of safety studies. Mild effects can include nausea, diarrhea and headache. Since ribose is a carbohydrate or sugar, avoid taking high doses if you are diabetic to prevent potential increases in blood sugar levels.
References
- RaySahelian: Ribose
- "The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine"; The Use of D-Ribose in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia: A Pilot Study; J.E. Teitelbaum, et al.; November 2006
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center: Ribose
- National Fibromyalgia Association: Economic Burden
- "The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine"; D-Ribose Aids Fatigue in Aging Adults; Richard Flanigan, et al.; May 2010
- "The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine"; D-Ribose Benefits Restless Legs Syndrome; L. Shecterle, et al.; November 2008
