[Note: To read the full text of this report free, click here. For a scientific explanation of D-ribose, see “Ribose: A major component of the ‘energy molecule’ ATP" by nutrient specialist Brian Tanzer, MS, CNS. Note this study did not involve 'blinding' and was not placebo controlled - patients all were supplemented with D-ribose. At least one blinded, controlled trial is in the works, led by Leslie J Crofford, MD, at the University of Kentucky.]
Objectives: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia (CFS/FMS) are debilitating syndromes affecting about 2%-4% of the population.
Although they are heterogeneous conditions associated with many triggers, they appear to have the common pathology of being associated with impaired energy metabolism.
As D-ribose has been shown to increase cellular energy synthesis, and was shown to significantly improve clinical outcomes in CFS/FMS in an earlier study, we hypothesized that giving D-ribose would improve function in CFS/FMS patients.
Design, Location, and Subjects:
An open-label, unblinded study in which 53 US clinics enrolled 257 patients who had been given a diagnosis of CFS/FMS by a health practitioner.
Interventions: All subjects were given D-ribose (Corvalen™), a naturally occurring pentose carbohydrate, 5-g twice a day for 3 weeks.
Outcome measures: All patients were assessed at baseline (1 week before treatment), and after 1,2, & 3 weeks using a Visual Analog Scale (1-7 points) rating energy, sleep, cognitive function, pain and overall well being.
Results: 203 patients completed the 3 week treatment trial. D-ribose treatment led to both statistically (p<.0001) and clinically highly important average improvements in all categories:
• 61.3% increase in energy
• 37% increase in overall well being
• 29.3% improvement in sleep
• 30% improvement in mental clarity
• 15.6% decrease in pain.
Improvement began in the first week of treatment, and continued to increase at the end of the 3 weeks of treatment. The D-ribose was well tolerated.
Conclusions: In this multicenter study, D-ribose resulted in markedly improved energy levels, sleep, mental clarity, pain relief, and well being in patients suffering from fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. ClinicalTrials.gov # NCT01108549.
Source: The Open Pain Journal, June 27, 2012; vol 5, 32-37. Kona Research Center, Kailua Kona, Hawaii; Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers, Addison, Texas; Schwabe North America, Lehi, Utah, USA. [Email: Endfatigue@aol.com]
