D-riboseis a supplement sometimes recommended as a treatment for people withfibromyalgiaandchronic fatigue syndrome. Also called ribose or Beta-D-ribofuranose, it’s a type of sugar that your body produces naturally and is readily available in supplement form.Grace Clementine / Getty ImagesD-ribose plays several important roles in your body, such as:Helping produceenergyin the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate)Serving as a building block of the genetic material RNA (ribonucleic acid)Helping increase your muscle energyAs with most supplements, we don’t have enough high-quality research to draw a lot of conclusions about it as a treatment for these conditions.D-Ribose for Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue SyndromeWe have very little research on D-ribose supplementation for either fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome. Still, some healthcare providers recommend it, and some people with these conditions say it is an effective part of their treatment regimen.Onesmall studypublished inThe Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicineconcluded that D-ribose supplementation significantly improved symptoms of these conditions, including:Increasing energy levelsImproving sleep qualityImproving mental clarityLowering pain intensityImproving overall well beingHowever, this work is preliminary, and we need considerably more research to confirm the findings, including larger studies.It’s unclear how D-ribose accomplishes the things that have been attributed to it. For example, the low energy in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome is theorized to come from a deficiency of ATP, but we don’t have any proof so far that D-ribose supplementation boosts ATP.D-ribose has been theorized to increase exercise capacity and energy following a heart attack, raising questions about whether it can help with exercise tolerance in other instances. It’s been studied for increasing high-intensity exercise capacity in athletes but was found to provide no benefit.So far, we don’t have evidence one way or the other whether D-ribose is effective againstpost-exertional malaise(a severe symptom increase after exercise), which is a key symptom of chronic fatigue syndrome.A 2017 review of dietary modifications for chronic fatigue syndrome published in an Australian and New Zealand medical journal noted positive outcomes had been seen with D-ribose in human trials.One extremely small study suggests that D-ribose may lessen symptoms ofrestless legs syndrome, which is common in people with fibromyalgia.Again, not nearly enough research has been done, and it doesn’t appear to be an area of ongoing interest in the research community. Unless interest picks up, we may never really know whether D-ribose supplements are a safe and effective treatment for these conditions.D-Ribose DosageWe don’t yet have a standard dosing recommendation for D-ribose supplements. In the study on fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, participants took 5-gram doses three times a day.In some studies of D-ribose for people with heart failure, researchers have used doses of 15 grams four times a day.D-ribose supplements are widely available and typically sold in powder or capsule form.D-Ribose in Your DietWhile some foods contain D-ribose, it’s a form that your body is believed to be unable to use. That makes supplementation the typical way to increase levels.Side Effects of D-RiboseWhile supplements are a “natural” treatment, they can still cause unwanted effects. Some of the side effects of D-ribose may include:Digestive problems, such as nausea, stomach ache, and diarrheaHeadachesIncreased uric acid levels in urine or blood in people with kidney disorders, which raises the risk of gout or other kidney problemsLowering blood sugarBecause it can lower blood sugar, D-ribose is not recommended for diabetics who are on medications that lower their blood sugars.D-ribose is generally considered safe for short-term use. So far, we don’t have much safety information about long-term use or use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.Is D-Ribose Right for You?If you’re interested in D-ribose to help treat your fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, be sure to talk to your healthcare provider to make sure you’re taking it safely.You may also want to speak to a pharmacist about whether D-ribose could interact with anything else you’re taking.Correction-February 28, 2023:This article was updated to correct the effect D-ribose may have on uric acid levels.
D-riboseis a supplement sometimes recommended as a treatment for people withfibromyalgiaandchronic fatigue syndrome. Also called ribose or Beta-D-ribofuranose, it’s a type of sugar that your body produces naturally and is readily available in supplement form.
Grace Clementine / Getty Images
D-ribose plays several important roles in your body, such as:
As with most supplements, we don’t have enough high-quality research to draw a lot of conclusions about it as a treatment for these conditions.
D-Ribose for Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
We have very little research on D-ribose supplementation for either fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome. Still, some healthcare providers recommend it, and some people with these conditions say it is an effective part of their treatment regimen.
Onesmall studypublished inThe Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicineconcluded that D-ribose supplementation significantly improved symptoms of these conditions, including:
However, this work is preliminary, and we need considerably more research to confirm the findings, including larger studies.
It’s unclear how D-ribose accomplishes the things that have been attributed to it. For example, the low energy in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome is theorized to come from a deficiency of ATP, but we don’t have any proof so far that D-ribose supplementation boosts ATP.
D-ribose has been theorized to increase exercise capacity and energy following a heart attack, raising questions about whether it can help with exercise tolerance in other instances. It’s been studied for increasing high-intensity exercise capacity in athletes but was found to provide no benefit.So far, we don’t have evidence one way or the other whether D-ribose is effective againstpost-exertional malaise(a severe symptom increase after exercise), which is a key symptom of chronic fatigue syndrome.
A 2017 review of dietary modifications for chronic fatigue syndrome published in an Australian and New Zealand medical journal noted positive outcomes had been seen with D-ribose in human trials.
One extremely small study suggests that D-ribose may lessen symptoms ofrestless legs syndrome, which is common in people with fibromyalgia.
Again, not nearly enough research has been done, and it doesn’t appear to be an area of ongoing interest in the research community. Unless interest picks up, we may never really know whether D-ribose supplements are a safe and effective treatment for these conditions.
D-Ribose Dosage
We don’t yet have a standard dosing recommendation for D-ribose supplements. In the study on fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, participants took 5-gram doses three times a day.
In some studies of D-ribose for people with heart failure, researchers have used doses of 15 grams four times a day.
D-ribose supplements are widely available and typically sold in powder or capsule form.
D-Ribose in Your Diet
While some foods contain D-ribose, it’s a form that your body is believed to be unable to use. That makes supplementation the typical way to increase levels.
Side Effects of D-Ribose
While supplements are a “natural” treatment, they can still cause unwanted effects. Some of the side effects of D-ribose may include:
Because it can lower blood sugar, D-ribose is not recommended for diabetics who are on medications that lower their blood sugars.
D-ribose is generally considered safe for short-term use. So far, we don’t have much safety information about long-term use or use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Is D-Ribose Right for You?
If you’re interested in D-ribose to help treat your fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, be sure to talk to your healthcare provider to make sure you’re taking it safely.
You may also want to speak to a pharmacist about whether D-ribose could interact with anything else you’re taking.
Correction-February 28, 2023:This article was updated to correct the effect D-ribose may have on uric acid levels.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Myhill S, Booth NE, McLaren-Howard J.Chronic fatigue syndrome and mitochondrial dysfunction.Int J Clin Exp Med. 2009;2(1):1-16.Seifert JG, Brumet A, St Cyr JA.The influence of D-ribose ingestion and fitness level on performance and recovery.J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2017;14(1):47. doi:10.1186/s12970-017-0205-8Jones K, Probst Y.Role of dietary modification in alleviating chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms: a systematic review.Aust N Z J Public Health. 2017;41(4):338-344. doi:10.1111/1753-6405.12670Shecterle L, Kasubick R, St Cyr J.D-ribose benefits restless legs syndrome.J Altern Complement Med. 2008;14(9):1165-1166.Omran H, McCarter D, St Cyr J, Lüderitz B.D-ribose aids congestive heart failure patients.Exp Clin Cardiol. 2004;9(2):117-118.EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA); Turck D, Bresson JL, Burlingame B, Dean T, Fairweather-Tait S, Heinonen M, Hirsch-Ernst KI, Mangelsdorf I, McArdle H, Naska A, Neuhäuser-Berthold M, Nowicka G, Pentieva K, Sanz Y, Siani A, Sjödin A, Stern M, Tomé D, Vinceti M, Willatts P, Engel KH, Marchelli R, Pöting A, Poulsen M, Schlatter JR, Germini A, Van Loveren H.Safety of d-ribose as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. EFSA J. 2018 May 31;16(5):e05265. doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5265Additional ReadingMyhill S, Booth NE, McLaren-Howard J.Targeting mitochondrial dysfuction in the treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) - a clinical audit.International journal of clinical and experimental medicine. 2013;6(1):1-15.Gerdle B, Forsgren MF, Bengtsson A, et al.Decreased muscle concentrations of ATP and PCR in the quadriceps muscle of fibromyalgia patients–a 31P-MRS study.European journal of pain. 2013 Sep;17(8):1205-15.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Myhill S, Booth NE, McLaren-Howard J.Chronic fatigue syndrome and mitochondrial dysfunction.Int J Clin Exp Med. 2009;2(1):1-16.Seifert JG, Brumet A, St Cyr JA.The influence of D-ribose ingestion and fitness level on performance and recovery.J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2017;14(1):47. doi:10.1186/s12970-017-0205-8Jones K, Probst Y.Role of dietary modification in alleviating chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms: a systematic review.Aust N Z J Public Health. 2017;41(4):338-344. doi:10.1111/1753-6405.12670Shecterle L, Kasubick R, St Cyr J.D-ribose benefits restless legs syndrome.J Altern Complement Med. 2008;14(9):1165-1166.Omran H, McCarter D, St Cyr J, Lüderitz B.D-ribose aids congestive heart failure patients.Exp Clin Cardiol. 2004;9(2):117-118.EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA); Turck D, Bresson JL, Burlingame B, Dean T, Fairweather-Tait S, Heinonen M, Hirsch-Ernst KI, Mangelsdorf I, McArdle H, Naska A, Neuhäuser-Berthold M, Nowicka G, Pentieva K, Sanz Y, Siani A, Sjödin A, Stern M, Tomé D, Vinceti M, Willatts P, Engel KH, Marchelli R, Pöting A, Poulsen M, Schlatter JR, Germini A, Van Loveren H.Safety of d-ribose as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. EFSA J. 2018 May 31;16(5):e05265. doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5265Additional ReadingMyhill S, Booth NE, McLaren-Howard J.Targeting mitochondrial dysfuction in the treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) - a clinical audit.International journal of clinical and experimental medicine. 2013;6(1):1-15.Gerdle B, Forsgren MF, Bengtsson A, et al.Decreased muscle concentrations of ATP and PCR in the quadriceps muscle of fibromyalgia patients–a 31P-MRS study.European journal of pain. 2013 Sep;17(8):1205-15.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Myhill S, Booth NE, McLaren-Howard J.Chronic fatigue syndrome and mitochondrial dysfunction.Int J Clin Exp Med. 2009;2(1):1-16.Seifert JG, Brumet A, St Cyr JA.The influence of D-ribose ingestion and fitness level on performance and recovery.J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2017;14(1):47. doi:10.1186/s12970-017-0205-8Jones K, Probst Y.Role of dietary modification in alleviating chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms: a systematic review.Aust N Z J Public Health. 2017;41(4):338-344. doi:10.1111/1753-6405.12670Shecterle L, Kasubick R, St Cyr J.D-ribose benefits restless legs syndrome.J Altern Complement Med. 2008;14(9):1165-1166.Omran H, McCarter D, St Cyr J, Lüderitz B.D-ribose aids congestive heart failure patients.Exp Clin Cardiol. 2004;9(2):117-118.EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA); Turck D, Bresson JL, Burlingame B, Dean T, Fairweather-Tait S, Heinonen M, Hirsch-Ernst KI, Mangelsdorf I, McArdle H, Naska A, Neuhäuser-Berthold M, Nowicka G, Pentieva K, Sanz Y, Siani A, Sjödin A, Stern M, Tomé D, Vinceti M, Willatts P, Engel KH, Marchelli R, Pöting A, Poulsen M, Schlatter JR, Germini A, Van Loveren H.Safety of d-ribose as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. EFSA J. 2018 May 31;16(5):e05265. doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5265
Myhill S, Booth NE, McLaren-Howard J.Chronic fatigue syndrome and mitochondrial dysfunction.Int J Clin Exp Med. 2009;2(1):1-16.
Seifert JG, Brumet A, St Cyr JA.The influence of D-ribose ingestion and fitness level on performance and recovery.J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2017;14(1):47. doi:10.1186/s12970-017-0205-8
Jones K, Probst Y.Role of dietary modification in alleviating chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms: a systematic review.Aust N Z J Public Health. 2017;41(4):338-344. doi:10.1111/1753-6405.12670
Shecterle L, Kasubick R, St Cyr J.D-ribose benefits restless legs syndrome.J Altern Complement Med. 2008;14(9):1165-1166.
Omran H, McCarter D, St Cyr J, Lüderitz B.D-ribose aids congestive heart failure patients.Exp Clin Cardiol. 2004;9(2):117-118.
EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA); Turck D, Bresson JL, Burlingame B, Dean T, Fairweather-Tait S, Heinonen M, Hirsch-Ernst KI, Mangelsdorf I, McArdle H, Naska A, Neuhäuser-Berthold M, Nowicka G, Pentieva K, Sanz Y, Siani A, Sjödin A, Stern M, Tomé D, Vinceti M, Willatts P, Engel KH, Marchelli R, Pöting A, Poulsen M, Schlatter JR, Germini A, Van Loveren H.Safety of d-ribose as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. EFSA J. 2018 May 31;16(5):e05265. doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5265
Myhill S, Booth NE, McLaren-Howard J.Targeting mitochondrial dysfuction in the treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) - a clinical audit.International journal of clinical and experimental medicine. 2013;6(1):1-15.Gerdle B, Forsgren MF, Bengtsson A, et al.Decreased muscle concentrations of ATP and PCR in the quadriceps muscle of fibromyalgia patients–a 31P-MRS study.European journal of pain. 2013 Sep;17(8):1205-15.
Myhill S, Booth NE, McLaren-Howard J.Targeting mitochondrial dysfuction in the treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) - a clinical audit.International journal of clinical and experimental medicine. 2013;6(1):1-15.
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