Ribose
Research reviewed: Up until 03/2026
Ribose (D-Ribose) is a dietary supplement with 9 published peer-reviewed studies involving 368 participants, researched for Chronic Fatigue & Fibromyalgia, Cardiac Function, Energy Metabolism and 1 more areas.
Evidence at a Glance
Strength is scored by study design, sample size, study type, and outcomes
Chronic Fatigue & Fibromyalgia
ModerateCardiac Function
ModerateEnergy Metabolism
ModerateEnergy Metabolism & NAD+
ModerateResearch Visualised
Visual breakdown of the clinical data.
Study Quality Breakdown
What types of studies were conducted
Participants Per Study
Larger samples = more reliable results
Research Timeline
When the studies were published
All Studies
Detailed breakdown of each trial. Click to expand.
Chronic Fatigue & Fibromyalgia
To assess D-ribose on energy and well-being in CFS and fibromyalgia
Study Type
Pilot open-label study
Purpose
To assess D-ribose on energy and well-being in CFS and fibromyalgia
Dose
5 g three times daily
Participants
41 patients with CFS and fibromyalgia
Duration
Average 3 weeks
Results
66% experienced significant improvement. Average VAS energy increase of 45%, overall well-being improvement of 30% (p<0.0001). PMID: 17109576
How They Measured It
VAS energy, sleep, mental clarity, pain, well-being
To assess D-ribose treatment of CFS and fibromyalgia
Study Type
Open-label multicentre study
Purpose
To assess D-ribose treatment of CFS and fibromyalgia
Dose
5 g three times daily
Participants
257 patients across multiple centres
Duration
3 weeks
Results
D-ribose supplementation significantly improved all FIBRO parameters. 53.6% showed meaningful improvement. Average energy increase 61.3% over baseline. PMID: 19641697
How They Measured It
FIBRO score (energy, sleep, mental clarity, pain, overall well-being)
To review D-ribose role in ATP resynthesis and cellular energy deficiency states
Study Type
Review
Purpose
To review D-ribose role in ATP resynthesis and cellular energy deficiency states
Dose
Various
Participants
N/A
Duration
N/A
Results
D-ribose is essential for ATP and NAD+ synthesis via pentose phosphate pathway. In energy-deficient states like CFS and fibromyalgia, supplemental ribose restores cellular energy more rapidly than the body can synthesize it.
How They Measured It
Biochemical and clinical literature review
Cardiac Function
To assess D-ribose on cardiac function and exercise tolerance in chronic heart failure
Study Type
Randomised double-blind placebo-controlled
Purpose
To assess D-ribose on cardiac function and exercise tolerance in chronic heart failure
Dose
15 g/day D-ribose
Participants
20 CHF patients (NYHA III)
Duration
6 weeks
Results
D-ribose significantly improved diastolic dysfunction indices, increased 6-minute walk distance, and improved quality of life in heart failure patients vs placebo. PMID: 12510799
How They Measured It
LVEF, 6-minute walk test, diastolic function, quality of life
To assess D-ribose on ATP recovery after cardiac ischemia
Study Type
Animal study
Purpose
To assess D-ribose on ATP recovery after cardiac ischemia
Dose
1 mg/kg D-ribose IV
Participants
Dogs with experimental cardiac ischemia
Duration
Perioperative
Results
D-ribose administration significantly accelerated ATP recovery in post-ischemic myocardium and improved cardiac function recovery after ischemia-reperfusion. PMID: 1712754
How They Measured It
Myocardial ATP content, cardiac function, recovery time
Energy Metabolism
To assess D-ribose on exercise capacity and muscle ATP recovery
Study Type
Randomised controlled trial
Purpose
To assess D-ribose on exercise capacity and muscle ATP recovery
Dose
3-4 g/day oral D-ribose
Participants
26 healthy trained subjects
Duration
2 weeks
Results
D-ribose supplementation enhanced muscle ATP recovery after high-intensity exercise and improved endurance performance vs placebo. PMID: 8429047
How They Measured It
Muscle ATP, exercise time to exhaustion, lactate
To evaluate D-ribose on endurance performance in trained cyclists
Study Type
Randomised controlled trial
Purpose
To evaluate D-ribose on endurance performance in trained cyclists
Dose
3 g before and after exercise
Participants
24 trained cyclists
Duration
4 weeks
Results
D-ribose supplementation showed non-significant trend for improved time trial performance. More benefit observed in high-intensity protocols requiring rapid ATP turnover.
How They Measured It
Time trial performance, power output, VO2max
To investigate D-ribose on NAD+ biosynthesis and cellular energy pathways
Study Type
In vitro study
Purpose
To investigate D-ribose on NAD+ biosynthesis and cellular energy pathways
Dose
Various concentrations
Participants
Cardiac and skeletal muscle cell cultures
Duration
N/A
Results
D-ribose provided as substrate significantly accelerated NAD+ and ATP biosynthesis via the pentose phosphate pathway, restoring cellular energetics more rapidly than de novo synthesis. PMID: 15451954
How They Measured It
Pentose phosphate pathway flux, NAD+/NADH, ATP levels
Energy Metabolism & NAD+
To evaluate whether a combination of nicotinamide and D-ribose increases NAD+ metabolism in healthy middle-aged adults.
Study Type
Randomized, Triple-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Crossover
Purpose
To evaluate whether a combination of nicotinamide and D-ribose increases NAD+ metabolism in healthy middle-aged adults.
Dose
Nicotinamide 215 mg plus D-ribose 3.0 g daily
Participants
Healthy middle-aged adults
Duration
4 weeks
Results
The combination of nicotinamide and D-ribose (RiaGev) was safe and effective at increasing NAD+ metabolome in healthy middle-aged adults.
How They Measured It
NAD+ metabolome markers (NMN, NAD+, NADH), blood metabolomics
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Ribose research
There are currently 9 peer-reviewed studies on Ribose (D-Ribose), involving 368 total participants. Research covers Energy metabolism, Chronic fatigue & fibromyalgia, Cardiac function. The overall evidence strength is rated as Strong.
The evidence is currently rated as "Strong Evidence". This rating is based on study design quality (randomisation, blinding, placebo controls), sample sizes, study types (6 human studies, 1 animal study), and reported outcomes.
Ribose has been researched for: Energy metabolism, Chronic fatigue & fibromyalgia, Cardiac function. Each area has its own body of evidence which you can explore in the study breakdowns above.
Yes, 6 out of 9 studies are human trials. The remaining 1 is an animal study. Human trials carry more weight in our evidence scoring system.
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