Fibromyalgia is a complex condition that can cause a serious impact on your ability to function and your overall feelings of well-being. While there's no known cure for fibromyalgia, certain medications and treatments can help improve your symptoms. Additionally, some research has found that D-ribose supplements can also provide benefits. Consult your doctor before using any dietary supplements.
About D-Ribose
D-ribose is a form of ribose that occurs naturally in plant and animal sources and is also manufactured by your body. Ribose is a carbohydrate and specifically, a form of sugar that is required for the production of ATP, or adenosine triphosphate, your body's main source of energy. According to the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, food sources do not supply enough of the recommended amounts of ribose. However, your body generally synthesizes enough ribose from glucose to meet its needs. Because ribose can affect your energy levels, researchers have focused on its potential energy-enhancing benefits for fibromyalgia. D-ribose supplements are available in powder, capsule and tablet form.
Fibromyalgia and Energy
One of the main symptoms of fibromyalgia is a lack of energy, manifested in feelings of constant feelings of fatigue. Other key symptoms of fibromyalgia include muscle aches and pains, sleep disorders, memory problems, and depression or other mood disorders. Doctors typically prescribe medication to treat pain and sleep disturbances, muscle relaxants for muscle spasms and antidepressants to alleviate symptoms of depression, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Additionally, self-help techniques such as exercise and stress management techniques like meditation and yoga may also help reduce symptoms. While dietary supplements aren't a cure for fibromyalgia, some research has shown that D-ribose supplements can help improve the outcome of this often debilitating disorder.
Clinical Evidence
A case report published in 2004 in the journal "Pharmacotherapy," the official journal of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, showed that ribose supplementation helped to reduce symptoms of fibromyalgia in one female patient. The researchers hypothesize that the beneficial effects of ribose may be attributable to the increase in energy production. Another study examined the effects of D-ribose supplementation on 41 patients suffering from either fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, a disorder whose symptoms closely resemble those of fibromyalgia. The results, published in the November 2006 issue of the "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine," the official journal of the Society for Acupuncture Research and an official journal of the International Society for Complementary Medicine Research, showed that patients receiving the supplement showed a significant improvement in symptoms of energy, sleep, mental clarity, pain intensity and well-being.
Considerations
While D-ribose may improve certain symptoms of fibromyalgia, you should never use dietary supplements in an attempt to self-treat your condition. Consult your doctor if you think you have fibromyalgia. According to Tufts Medical Center, formal safety studies on D-ribose have not yet been conducted, however, no major or damaging side effects have been reported. However, as with any dietary supplement, you should inform your doctor if you decide to use D-ribose.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Fibromyalgia
- "Pharmacotherapy"; Benefit of Ribose in a Patient With Fibromyalgia; B. Gebhart, et al.; 2004
- "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine"; The Use of D-Ribose in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia: A Pilot Study; J. Teitelbaum, et al.; November 2006
- Tufts Medical Center: Ribose
