D-ribose is a naturally occurring organic compound with an RNA (ribonucleic acid) backbone. D-ribose can play a role in metabolism, as a part of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) and several other compounds. D-ribose has been linked with heart health.

Significance

D-ribose is the exclusive sugar part of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), RNA and ATP. As the building blocks of nucleic acids and ATP, D-ribose plays an important part in the recovery of the heart from a diminished oxygen state.

Types

The term ribose may refer to either D-ribose or L-ribose. D-ribose is a much more common substance than its synthetic mirror L-ribose, which does not occur naturally, and subsequently is of limited interest.

CHF

Congestive heart failure, or ischemia, is a condition in which the heart is unable to pump adequate amounts of blood to the body, resulting in low levels of oxygen in body tissues. CHF may lead to more serious conditions such as hypertension and coronary artery disease. Without adequate supplies of D-ribose, the condition may not improve.

D-ribose in Heart Health

Under stressful heart episodes, such as CHF, nucleotides ATP, ADP (adenosine diphosphate) and AMP (adenosine monophosphate) are lost from the heart. Resynthesis of ATP is then limited by supplies of D-ribose, an essential component of ATP.

Evidence

Research carried out by Heinz-Gerd Zimmer on rats and by John Foker on dogs both point to D-ribose playing an important role in heart rehabilitation after stressful incidents. In both experiments, ATP levels on research subjects were shown to rebound drastically on animals who were treated with D-ribose.

Source:

Vitamin Research Products: D-ribose