Ribose: more than a simple sugar?
Teginder S Dhanoa1, Jeffrey A Housner
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Michigan, MedSport Domino's Farms, Ann Arbor, MI 48105-9755, USA.
Current Sports Medicine Reports
|July 10, 2007
Summary
Ribose supplementation may aid ATP restoration after exercise, but current evidence does not confirm its benefits for athletic performance. More research is needed to establish ribose as an effective ergogenic aid.
Area of Science:
- Exercise physiology
- Nutritional biochemistry
Background:
- Ribose is marketed as an ergogenic aid.
- Claims of ergogenic benefits lack substantial scientific backing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the scientific literature on ribose as an ergogenic aid.
- To evaluate the evidence supporting ribose's impact on athletic performance.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of scientific investigations on ribose supplementation.
- Analysis of studies examining ATP restoration and athletic performance.
Main Results:
- Some data suggest ribose supplementation enhances ATP level restoration post-exercise.
- This enhancement in ATP levels has rarely correlated with improved athletic performance.
Conclusions:
- Current scientific evidence does not substantiate the ergogenic claims for ribose.
- Further research is required to determine the efficacy of ribose as a sports supplement.
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