Can ribose help fibromyalgia? In case you don't know, ribose is a sugar. We make ribose naturally and it helps us make energy and form our genetic materials, DNA and RNA. Over the last several years, ribose has been marketed as a treatment for fibromyalgia. I first reviewed ribose in my book on supplements a few years ago (I was one of the first, if I do say so myself), but because of a question from my friend Teresa Giordano, a personal trainer in Maryland, I thought I’d take a fresh look at ribose and see if anything has changed. I admit, while I do have some questions, I am intrigued with the idea that ribose might help fibromyalgia. That said, what I want to do here is review the research so you make your own decision.
Ribose Fibromyalgia Research
There is research on ribose and fibromyalgia. As far as I can tell the idea that ribose helps fibromyalgia symptoms became popular in 2004 when an interesting case study of a doctor with fibromyalgia was published in the journal Pharmacotherapy. After having only limited success with physical therapy and pain meds, she started using Ribose.
Why this doctor started taking ribose is unknown because up to this time, ribose was mostly marketed as a heart health supplement.
The brand used was Corvalen Ribose. She took 5 grams of ribose twice a day (10 grams total per day). After 2 weeks, she started to notice better sleep and mental alertness and a decrease in joint pain and more normal bowel movements.
After another 6 weeks of using ribose, she reported major improvements in her symptoms.
Here is where things get interesting. A month later, the doctor decided to stop using ribose to see what would happen. Within 1 week, her fibromyalgia symptoms started to reappear. She then started Corvalen brand of ribose taking again (10 grams a day) and within 2 weeks
her fibromyalgia symptoms started to get better again.
Then, after 30 days, she once again stopped taking ribose. Her fibromyalgia symptoms reappeared once again. When she again started taking ribose, her symptoms subsided. As far as we know she is still taking the Corvalen ribose supplement and her symptoms are gone.
This seems to be the most interesting evidence to date for the idea that ribose helps fibromyalgia symptoms.
I was intrigued with this case study because the person was a doctor and she basically performed an experiment on herself to see if ribose was actually helping her fibromyalgia.
That said this is only a case study. Case studies usually only involve 1 person and usually get written up because a doctor notices something unique or out of the ordinary. I would have liked this better if if involved 100 people but even so, this finding is intriguing.
This case study was published in 2004. It would be nice to know if this doctor is still taking the Corvalen ribose supplement and if it’s still keeping her free from fibromyalgia symptoms. Unfortunately she was never identified in the case report (the people in case reports are usually anonymous ).
In 2006 a ribose fibromyalgia treatment study was published in the Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine. This study consisted of 41 people with fibromyalgia and /or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
Of the 41, 36 people finished the study. Most of the participants were women. The people in the study were given 5 grams of ribose 3 times a day (15 grams of ribose total per day). Each person was given a container that had 280 grams of ribose and a questionnaire to complete so that they could report to the researchers how they felt after taking ribose. The supplement used in this study was Corvalen ribose.
Since people were taking 15 grams of ribose per day, technically the study should have only lasted about 19 days (280 ÷ 15 = about 19 days) but on average it took people about 25 days to finish the ribose.
At the end of the study, 23 out of the 35 people (65.7%) reported that ribose helped them feel better according to the questionnaires they returned to the researchers.
The people’s responses ranged from “somewhat better” to “much better”. The researchers report that ribose caused a “significant improvement” in energy, sleep;, mental clarity;, pain intensity and well-being as well as an improvement in patients' global assessment” (how they felt overall).
A problem of this study was that it was technically a pilot study. A pilot study is basically a preliminary investigation that’s used to determine if something is worth researching further. As I write these words, it doesn't appear that the researchers have published any other studies. Why? Another issue with this study is that there was no placebo group.
I also found a little typo in the study. At one point they say the average length of ribose use was 25 days but later they say it was 28 days. It’s a minor error and no study is “perfect” but it does make me wonder if there are any other problems.
Also, of the 3 investigators in this study, one was a Valen Labs consultant and the other was an employee of Valen Labs. Valen Labs is the maker of Corvalen, the ribose supplement used in this study . The chief investigator appears to have no connection to Valen labs and donated his compensation to charity. This is all clearly stated at the end of the study.
As I write these words, the case study the pilot study seem to be the only evidence that ribose helps fibromyalgia.
A study published in 2012 also noted that Corvalen ribose helped people who had chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). This study involved 253 people with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. People were given 5 grams of Corvalen ribose per day for 3 weeks.
The researchers reported that ribose produced significant improvements in energy, mental clarity, sleep quality and overall well being.
This is an interesting study but one problem is that it was an open label study and had no placebo group. An open label study means that the researchers knew who was getting the treatment (in this case, ribose). While these studies have merit they are not as good as a blinded study, where the researchers do not know who is getting the treatment.
The idea is that if you knew who was getting the treatment (ribose) you might subconsciously treat those people differently or let your own feelings influence the outcomes.
Ribose and Fibromyalgia: How Does It Work?
I haven’t seen a good explanation of how ribose helps fibromyalgia. On the website of the company that makes Corvalen ribose they say it “helps your body make adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy currency of the cell”.
Ribose does help us make ATP, our main energy molecule. There is some research on ATP and fibromyalgia. For example, one review noted that elevated ATP may be linked to fibromyalgia pain. Conversely, another study found that those with fibromyalgia had lower ATP levels inside blood platelets. Still others think magnesium is linked to fibromyalgia.
The bottom line is that nobody knows what causes fibromyalgia.
What Type of Ribose Helps Fibromyalgia?
So far, the published evidence seems strongest for a brand called Corvalen ribose. Corvalen labs LLC is a subsidiary of the parent company Bioenergy Inc. Since they have the proof, this is what I would go with if I had fibromyalgia.
That said, I want to state again that the evidence for ribose helping fibromyalgia appears to be based only on:
1. A case study
2. A study that had no placebo group – which was also sponsored by the makers of Corvalen ribose.
Even so, this gives Corvalen ribose bragging rights over other ribose supplements. Still, I still wonder why Bioenergy Inc has not done any further research on Corvalen and fibromyalgia. Their last – and only – study was in 2006. What’s up with that?
Will Other Ribose Supplements Work?
There are many ribose supplements on the market. Would these other brands be as effective as Corvalen ribose? Its possible but I don’t know because I can’t find any head to head comparisons between Corvalen ribose and these other ribose products.
This is a problem on the part of the scientific community. There is a big need for more ribose fibromyalgia research in general.
If you are searching for a ribose supplement, you may see ribose called Ribose or you may also see it labeled “D Ribose”. These all mean the same thing.
The “D” stands for dextrorotatory which is fancy chemistry talk and means that the ribose is “right handed”.
Is CorvalenM Better?
CorvalenM ribose is another version of the original Corvalen supplement. The difference is that CorvalenM has some magnesium. Currently there is no good proof that CorvalenM is any better for fibromyglgia than the original Corvalen.
Both of the lines of evidence I summarized above used regular Corvalen and not CorvalenM. I'd start with regular Corvalen first before experimenting with CorvalenM. Here is a link to Corvalen on Amazon for those who are interested.
How Much Ribose Helps Fibromyalgia?
If we take the research at face value, it appears 10-15 grams per day seems to be optimal for helping fibromyalgia pain. Personally I think it’s wise to start with less than this for the first few days to see how you feel and then slowly increase until you get to 10-15 grams. At this point, there is no good proof that people need more than 15 grams of ribose per day to help fibromyalgia.
Ribose Side Effects
Because ribose is a sugar, it's pretty safe in healthy people. In theory, ribose may promote a rise in insulin which might cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). It might also interact with diabetes medications.
For those who want more information about fibromyalga here are some resources:
Fibromyalgia Fitness The Fibromyalgia CookbookFibromyalgia For Dummies(excuse the name. It's a good book)
Does Ribose Work?
There is some intriguing very preliminary evidence that ribose might help fibromyalgia in some people. The Corvalen brand of ribose is the type that currently has all the evidence but that doesn't mean other types wouldn't work just as well. I have personally met some people who said ribose helped and others who said it didn't. I am intrigued by what I've seen so far and wish somebody would do better studies than currently exists. If ribose helped you – or didn't – I hope you will leave a comment below so others can benefit from what happened to you. Corvalen brand of ribose to see what others are saying.
I have just started taking Viridian Qi- Ribose, with added magnesium and Malic Acid. It seems to be helping, especially with my sleep pattern…I take a teaspoon 1hr before bed. Watch this space to see how it helps with my Fibro in other ways
Thanks Pam, I hope it helps you. keep us posted.
Hi Joe, I was diagnosed with Sjogren’s Syndrome 5 years ago which causes chronic fatigue, then a year later diagnosed with fibromyalgia. My Rheumatologist has never suggested any supplements to the prescription I am taking so I’ve done a lot of research and added supplements on my own. I just read about D-Ribose last week and ordered it immediately. I do take Nucigil which helps keep me awake all day, but am hoping D-Ribose will help with energy. I’ll check back with you to let you know how I’m doing.
Hi Debi, yes please let us know D-ribose works out for you. I’ll look forwarding to hearing what happens.
I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue a year ago (not fibro) and have been researching to find out what has been discovered about what helps. My main symptoms are muscle exhaustion after even short amounts of exercise, fogged head and overall malaise. I came upon this research (see http://www.meassociation.org.uk/2012/07/research-multi-centre-trial-treatment-of-cfs-and-fibromyalgia-with-d-ribose-4-july-2012/) and began using D-ribose.
The brand I went for was Solgar as they have a proven track record of producing only high quality supplements. Within days, I felt as though I had more energy – both mental and physical than I’ve had in a year! Over the month I’ve been taking it, this has maintained (I take 2 teaspoons morning and lunch).
Given that D-Ribose is an expensive product, I tried cheaper brands (DN) and really noticed a drop in effect within hours. To conclude: D-ribose is not a magical cure, but, for me, has significantly relieved some very disabling symptoms.
Hi Kate, thanks so much for sharing that study. I have updated my review to include it. I’m also glad to hear that the Solgar brand of Ribose is helping you. Corvalen sometimes seems to get a lot of the attention but I’ve met people who have had benefits with other brands.
Keep us posted if you turn up any other studies too 🙂
I am really interested in trying this, but also anxious because sugar is actually a trigger for my fibro. When you ribose is basically sugar it sounds like it would actually make symptoms worse. Cleaning up my diet has helped me considerably, but I’ve been in a lot of pain lately and the brain fog is coming back. Anyone that has used diet to manage symptoms try this? Thanks.
Hi Lisa, Ribose is a different type of sugar than glucose or sugar in foods. while I don’t believe ribose will raise your blood sugar levels, why don’t you try asking your pharmacist. While I am still intrigued by the research, I do wish there was more out there. Some people with fibro have told me it helped and others said it didn’t.
I recently purchased the JARROW formulas D-Ribose. One tablet contains 1g of d-ribose 1g sugar and 1g carbohydrates. The directions say to take 1-6 I think big difference. I haven’t started, because I can’t figure out how much to take.
I’ve always had a weak stomach and now even more with fibromyalgia. That’s why I got chewable tablets, I figure it will b resolved before it enters my stomach 🙂 irk if that would make a difference. But any ways I will see how it goes.
Hi Palmira, you are right that IS a big range to take! For things you have not taken before, I often recommend starting at the least dose possible for the first week and then slowly increasing it. For this, it would be 1g.
Interesting post. I have just started a d ribose trial for chronic fatigue (not cfs).
am surprised to read how little this has been researched especially considering the amount of positive comments from fibromyalgia/cfs sufferers. The lack of placebo control in that 41 patient study is a little suspicious. Just makes me think that the company who did the research don’t feel the need to do a full study – either because it’s unnecessary for them to keep the money coming in or because they may get found out.
On the other hand all the possible sufferers who say ribose has changed their life seems hard to ignore – so where are the independent studies? It’s an expensive supplement so if it does work for cfs/fibromyalgia patients then there would be a moral duty to make it available on prescription which would make it much cheaper for people due to demand.
I will try the ribose for 2-3 weeks and post back results from my perspective. Just to clarify I have long term chronic fatigue (5 years) and depression but have not been diagnosed with either fibromyalgia or cfs.
Hi paul, I agree I wish there were more studies on ribose. I hope it does help you and will look forward to learning how it worked in a few weeks.
I have been taking Ribose for the last week and have not had any fibro pain, and that has made me less drained of energy. I haven’t found it helps me sleep any better yet. I missed a dose yesterday morning and couldn’t get home until my 2nd dose was scheduled. The pain started up in the evening and returned tonight. It proved to me, like the case study, that its working. I know after a few more days of consistency i will be feeling better again. To anyone with fibro….you have to give it a try, i wish i would have heard of it sooner.
Crystal, really happy ribose is helping you.
Joe, thanks for putting this info together. I took one dose of 2 grams D Ribose at around 6pm. Noticed nothing, but a few hours later I was unable to sleep, jittery, and when I did get to sleep, had night sweats. I had bought the pills at Whole Foods and they were very nice about taking them back and refunding my money.
Ellen, thanks for the feedback. I am glad Whole Foods gave you your money back. While I usually would not recommend taking any new supplement close to bed time, has anyone else noticed ribose kept them awake at night?
Hi there all just t say tht its recommended that u detox yr body first for best results this is probably why its not worked for some hope this helps lok up on dr jacob teitlbaum protocol befor u start Ive not started mine yet as researching first will gt bk to u all on my progress good luck all
Jacqueline, just a heads up that when you search for a detox, the people should tell you what you are actually ridding your body of. If you don’t know what substances you are detoxing, then you wont know if it actually worked or not.
I had never heard of ribose even though I have had fibro for years, and thought I was “keeping up” on all the latest info.
I watched a neurologist who was diagnosed with fibromyalgia on Dr Oz and I ordered Ribose from Vitacost that same day.
It arrived today and I took my first “dose.” Shortly after, I noticed a very faint, slight head-ache which I was aware could happen. I also noticed an increase in energy, comparable to 2-3 cups of strong coffee.
I will continue this journey and report back in a week or two.
Gail, keep me posted on how you are doing with it.
Sorry, its been awhile since I’ve checked in. I stayed on the Ribose for about a year. It seemed to really help my energy levels and decrease my extreme fatigue, for awhile. I noticed that these effects started to diminish over time and I did eventually stop taking it.
Gail, thanks for the follow up. That’s so interesting how its effects seemed to go away after awhile. I will ask around to see if anyone else had similar experiences.
Amy follow-up ? I have been diagnose with fibro/cfs recently
It only been a year I have developed this
My fibro has been debilitating, especially through the changing seasons the last few weeks. I just discovered ribose last week. After reading a few articles I decided to order the ribose from Swanson Vitamins. I’ve only been taking it for a few days so I can’t testify to the long haul, but the improvement has been dramatic. My brain fog and fatigue are gone.
I’ve been sleeping much better, and I didn’t wake up stiff and exhausted. I’ve been able to do my normal exercise routine without crashing in exhaustion afterwards. I read in an article to start with 5 grams 3x day for 2-3 weeks and then move to 2x day. So I’m still taking 3x a day right now. I am really hoping this will continue to help, I really want to get my life back!
Shannon that’s great news so far! Hopefully you continue to see good results. Do let me know what happens in a couple of weeks 🙂
Checking back in- after about 4 months I was nearly pain free. I actually forgot to take it every day. Since then, I once went two weeks without and started getting stiff and pain again- realized I hadn’t been taking the Ribose and got back on it daily.
Now I have been able to exercise with just the normal muscle soreness and it has been fantastic. But I do know that if I increase activity, I require more Ribose in my routine. Is there any evidence that one can eventually no longer need to take it?
Shannon, that’s fantastic! As for research on how long one might need to take ribose, Im not sure. I haven’t seen any good research on this since I wrote my review (I have a google alert set up for this to keep tabs on it). I have heard that eventually fibromyalgia goes away for some people. How long that might be I don’t know. You might try experimenting with taking a little less and see what happens. If your pain is still less, then try reducing it more. I wish I had a good answer for you on this. The fact that you say you are almost pain free with ribose is really great news Shannon 🙂
I had gastric bypass surgery any 2 years ago. The doctors said it would help w the fibro pain. I was fat but no where near the people you see on the shows. In fact most pool said” why you are not even that big ” when I told them I was having it done. My only reason for having it done was to help w my fibro pain. I was assured by the dr it would help.
Well instead it did the exact opposite. I am in 150 percent worse pain. I did lose 130 lbs. I kept it off but I felt so much better heavy. So weight loss does not always help fibro pain.
My question is can I take this product even w having gastric bypass. I saw you say it was a singer I am allowed 8 grms at a time so I can do the math but did you see anything abt not taking it after gbs??? BTW love this site 😉
Jenn, I dont see why you cant take ribose but since you are limited to what you can eat at one time, you’ll probably have to take less than most people. I dont want you to use ribose at the expense of the nutrients you need. Until your email I’d never heard of weight loss surgery to help with fibromyalgia but a quick check online and there are those who say its helped. Sorry it didn’t help you – and that it made your fibromyalgia worse.
BTW congrats on maintaining your 130 pound weight loss. That is quite an achievement for anyone.
Hi I and my 14 yr old son have fibro , his pain and fog is severe and I’m worried about school. Before this he was top of the class and is very smart. We live in the uk and the doctors can give him no pain assistance. I will try anything so I’m wondering what dose for him and will it gain weight as he is a little tubby already with lack of movement
Sally, I have never heard of people gaining weigh with ribose so I dont think that will be a problem. Start with less than is recommended for the first week, just to see if there any side effects. I dont think there will be. Ive experimented with ribose myself and dont notice anything out of the ordinary. If it helps your./your sons fibro I hope you will let me know. I really want this post to be able to help people find answers about whether ribose might help them or not.
Five grams of ribose contains about 20 calories. Taking a 15g/day dose would mean an extra 60 calories per day. This is unlikely to cause significant weight gain by itself.
Sadie, that is a good point. Thanks for sharing that.
My fancy doctor put me on Corvalen, as well as some other stuff, and I have to say, my energy levels have improved and my pain has decreased in all but my worst spot. Still have some lingering aphasia, but I feel pretty clear headed most of the time. I’ve been on the Corvalen about 2 months, and expect to continue to improve.
I like the taste of the powder in water, which tells me this is something my body WANTS. I also get a Myers cocktail every few weeks, which is mainly magnesium with some Bs and C. I notice my feet don’t hurt when I get that regularly.
This doctor also wants to have my mercury fillings removed, which is alright with me as I used to get sick whenever I got immunizations – before the mercury was removed from all of them. Plus they are ugly…
Thanks for covering this issue and supplement!
Jinxed, thanks for the feedback. I’m glad Corvalen etc is helping your fibromyalgia 🙂
Wow, this is good info. I have had fibromyalgia for over 20 years and have tried most prescription meds and supplements available. My son told me about the D-ribose. I have only been taking it for two days and am looking forward to some positive results. I was diagnosed at about age 35 and am now 59. It has gotten progressively worse and the prescriptions only made me gain weight.
i am glad I found your information because I was only taking it once per day and now I know I need more. Thanks.
Deborah, thanks I am glad you found me and I really do hope ribose helps your fibromyalgia. I hope you will keep me posted on what happens. I’m really curious.
Thank you for this discussion. In the past I did have a significant case of fibromyalgia and somehow managed to resolve it (I’m not sure exactly how) after it ran for about 6 years. Of course I am concerned that someday, it might return.
R walker, Ive heard that eventually fibromyalgia seems to get better. how long “eventually” is I don’t know. I can imagine the emotional burden of wondering if you might get it back again. Im not an expert on if you might get it again (ask a rheumatologist to be sure) but I feel that if you stay healthy -including dealing well with emotional stress and getting enough sleep – that the odds are low. Speak to your doctor about this. At the very least, this might help you reduce your stress over this.
I use Puritan’s Pride D-Ribose capsules (powders aren’t practical for me) for fibromyalgia. Each capsule is 850mg. I take 3 capsules most mornings (after experimenting to find the smallest amount I still felt a moderate improvement from, due to budget constraints), and add 1, 2, or 3 more on some days when I expect to need an extra boost.
The effects for me are a clear consistent increase in alertness, energy, and exertion capacity.