D-Ribose

What Is It?
Ribose is a pentose sugar found in all living cells. It is
important for maintaining healthy total adenine nucleotide
pools and ultimately for the production of adenosine
triphosphate (ATP), promoting skeletal and cardiac muscle
energy metabolism.

Uses For Ribose
Rapid Energy Repletion For Intense Exercise: Research
indicates that nucleotides decrease after repeated, intense
exercise and that they may not be recovered for up to
several days, leaving muscle without the ability to refuel
energy stores. Numerous studies demonstrate the ability
of ribose to increase levels of the nucleotides AMP, ADP
and ATP, which are depleted during strenuous physical
activity or by lack of oxygen to working muscle. Skeletal
and cardiac muscle rely on these metabolites for energy,
and two metabolic mechanisms preserve these pools.
The first mechanism involves salvaging end products of
AMP breakdown, or preventing them from leaving the
cell. If they are salvaged, they may be recycled back
to AMP and ultimately to ATP. The second mechanism
for preserving nucleotide pools is de novo synthesis,
or formation of new nucleotides from ribose.
Both of these crucial activities can only begin when ribose
is converted to 5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate (PRPP).
If ribose concentrations are not sufficient, PRPP is in low
supply and muscle cells cannot adequately recharge.
Although the body has the ability to manufacture ribose
from glucose, it is a slow process which requires
glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH), an
enzyme typically in short supply. Supplemental ribose
allows the body to bypass this step, rapidly supplying the
compounds needed to boost salvage activity and enhance
de novo synthesis.
Ribose also offers powerful, complementary support to
creatine by enhancing TAN pools, providing the necessary
substrates which creatine can then convert to ATP.

What Is The Source?
Ribose is derived from corn or glucose fermentation.

Recommendations
1-2 scoops per day
(2.2-4.4 grams), 30 minutes before and following an
exercise session. On days with no exercise scheduled, take in the
evening before bedtime.

Are There Any Potential Side Effects Or Precautions?
If pregnant or lactating, consult your physician before
taking this product. In a small number of instances,
diarrhea, gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea, and
headache have been reported with ribose supplementation.
Ribose may have a hypoglycemic effect, which appears to
be transient and clinically non-significant. It is advised
that diabetics be supervised closely by their healthcare
practitioner.

Are There Any Potential Drug Interactions?
At this time, there are no known adverse reactions when
taken in conjunction with medications.

back to Vitamin Index