RIBOSE: The Next Creatine on the Supplement Scene?

Ribose has emerged as a competitor to creatine as a supplement to increase power and replenish high-energy compounds following intense exercise.

I'll toss you some more info:

• The body readily synthesizes and the diet provides small amounts of ribose through ripe fruits and vegetables.

• Metabolically, this 5-carbon sugar serves as an energy substrate for ATP re-synthesis. Because of this role in energy metabolism, ribose ingestion is promoted to quickly restore the body's limited amount of ATP.

• To maintain optimal ATP levels, recommended ribose doses range from 10g to 20 g/day. Clearly any compound that either increases ATP levels or facilitates its resynthesis would benefit short-term, high-power physical activities. 

NOTE: Only limited experimentation exists to assess the potential for ribose. 


CLOSING: SOME studies have shown promise that ribose supplementation leads to enhanced restoration of ATP levels following exercise, but this has seldom translated into increased athletic performance. (Dhanoa TS, Housner JA.)

(References: McArdle, W., Katch, F., & Katch, V., (2007). Exercise Phsyiology. 6th edition. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.)