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Inhaltsstoff-Glossar
D-Ribose
What Is D-Ribose?
Ribose is a sugar that occurs naturally in the chemical configuration known as D-ribose. Its mirror-image isomer, L-ribose, plays only a minor role in nature. D-ribose is essential to life because it is a structural component of nucleic acids, which carry genetic information. It is also part of nucleotides that play central roles in cellular energy transfer.
Where Does D-Ribose Occur Naturally?
The body can synthesize ribose from monosaccharides such as galactose, fructose and glucose. It therefore occurs naturally in all cells. Ribose is also present in many foods, although the amount that remains available after processing and digestion is difficult to determine. In 2019, researchers reported the detection of ribose in a meteorite, adding to the scientific discussion about whether organic molecules from space contributed to the formation of biomolecules such as RNA on early Earth.
What Is D-Ribose’s Primary Function in the Body?
Ribose forms part of the backbone of genetic material. In ribonucleic acid, or RNA, D-ribose units form the sugar component of the molecular backbone. Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, contains deoxyribose, a closely related sugar with one fewer oxygen atom.
The body uses ribose to build several important molecules involved in energy metabolism, including ATP and the nucleotide components of NADH and FADH2. Adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, contains ribose together with adenine and three phosphate groups and acts as the principal immediately usable energy carrier in cells. Ribose is also part of cyclic adenosine monophosphate, or cAMP, a signaling molecule that regulates numerous metabolic processes.
The body uses ribose to build several important molecules involved in energy metabolism, including ATP and the nucleotide components of NADH and FADH2. Adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, contains ribose together with adenine and three phosphate groups and acts as the principal immediately usable energy carrier in cells. Ribose is also part of cyclic adenosine monophosphate, or cAMP, a signaling molecule that regulates numerous metabolic processes.
What Are the Potential Benefits of D-Ribose Supplementation?
Because ribose is a structural component of ATP, researchers have studied whether supplemental D-ribose can influence the replenishment of cellular energy stores. It has been investigated particularly in situations where illness or intense physical exertion may reduce ATP availability.
Experimental studies suggest that providing ribose can increase the synthesis of ribose-containing molecules. Small clinical studies have examined doses around 15 g per day in people with heart failure or coronary artery disease and reported possible improvements in exercise-related cardiovascular performance. These studies were small and do not establish a general treatment benefit.
In one experiment involving healthy men who performed intense cycling twice daily, a very high total amount of ribose supported the recovery of muscle ATP more effectively than other simple sugars. The amount used in that experiment was far above ordinary supplemental intake. EFSA has assessed the safety of supplemental D-ribose and identified concerns at higher doses; the article cites an intake of 36 mg per kilogram of body weight, equivalent to approximately 2.9 g per day for a person weighing 80 kilograms.
From a biochemical perspective, D-ribose can accelerate ATP synthesis under certain conditions, particularly when energy stores are depleted. However, it remains unclear how meaningful supplementation is for athletic performance or recovery in healthy people. Its use in heart disease, fibromyalgia and fatigue-related conditions also requires further research. EFSA has concluded that the safety evidence for supplemental D-ribose is limited, so intake should remain conservative and should be discussed with a qualified professional when medical conditions are present.
Sources
Further information and scientific studies on D-ribose can be found below.
Benefit of ribose in a patient with fibromyalgia
www.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15537568
D-ribose aids advanced ischemic heart failure patients
www.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18674831