Although it’s normal to experience food cravings from time to time, constant food cravings can lead to overeating and increase your risk for weight gain and diabetes. Food cravings are caused by a wide range of factors, including stress, reduced calories and low energy levels. D-ribose, a type of sugar found in the body, taken in supplement form, may help to ease food cravings; however, further research is necessary. Consult your health-care provider before taking D-ribose supplements.
Function
D-ribose is synthesized from the sugar glucose in your body and plays a critical role in a number of functions. It’s the sugar component of RNA, which is used to transcript proteins that are used for all biochemical processes in cells. According to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, D-ribose is also vital for producing chemical compounds including ATP, the main molecule that cells use for energy.
Food Cravings
Researchers at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center studied the relationship between foods cravings and intake of specific foods. They observed that subjects eating high-sugar snacks, such as M&M’s and jelly beans, were more likely to crave carbohydrates and sugar than fat. This suggests that taking the sugar D-ribose won’t help with cravings, but instead increase your cravings for other sugary foods. However, further research specifically using D-ribose is needed. The findings were published in the September 2009 issue of the journal “Appetite.”
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome refers to a condition in which you are constantly tired due to a lack of ATP production in the body. It can cause low blood sugar, which in turn can increase your sugar cravings. Scientists at the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers discovered that patients with chronic fatigue syndrome taking 280 grams of D-ribose experienced a significant increase in energy, which might help to reduce sugar cravings, according to research reported in the November 2006 issue of “Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.”
Sources
D-ribose might be effective for decreasing food cravings, but more research using D-ribose directly is needed. D-ribose is not found in foods, but is available in supplement form. Consult your health-care provider before taking D-ribose supplements.
References
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center; Ribose
- Appetite; The Association Between Food Cravings and Consumption of Specific Foods in a Laboratory Taste Test; C.K. Martin
- Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine; The Use of D-ribose in Chronic Fatigure Syndrome and Fibromyalgia: a Pilot Study; J.E. Teitelbaum
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