D-Ribose – Energy Boost (Qi-Ribose™ Powder) 180g

Specific nutrients play an important role in ensuring optimal cellular energy production by supporting the function of the mitochondria – the energy-producing component of our cells. Feelings of fatigue have been linked to poor mitochondrial function, and the provision of nutrients directly involved in cellular energy production, so called
“mitochondrial nutrients,” can increase energy and reduce mental and physical fatigue.

Promising nutrients for improving cellular energy are magnesium, ribose, acetyl-l-carnitine and malic acid.

⦁ Magnesium is an essential mineral and a co-factor in the activity of the enzyme ATP synthase, which is responsible for the formation of ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate), the major form of energy used in the body.
⦁ Ribose is a five carbon monosaccharide and the structural backbone of ATP and speeds up the rebuilding of depleted ATP pools thereby increasing the energy producing potential, or “energy charge,” of the cell.
⦁ Acetyl-l-carnitine is an amino acid responsible for the transport of acetyl CoA into the mitochondria during fatty acid oxidation and is thus crucial for cellular energy production.
⦁ Malic acid is an organic compound made by all living organisms which enhances ATP production by providing a key step in the citric acid cycle.

Image 1: Nutrients for mitochondrial energy (ATP) production.

A number of clinical studies have shown that supplementation with these nutrients may help improve cellular energy production and reduce fatigue. Improving cellular energy with mitochondrial nutrients may play an important role in chronic fatigue, age-related fatigue, mental fatigue, fibromyalgia-related fatigue, and have additional benefits for heart health and sports performance.

⦁ CHRONIC FATIGUE - Magnesium deficiency has been reported in people with chronic fatigue and has been suggested to play a role in its symptoms.7 Supplementation with magnesium has been found to reduce fatigue and increase energy levels in people suffering from severe chronic fatigue.

Supplementation with acetyl-l-carnitine in people with chronic fatigue was found to reduce symptoms such as fatigue and pain as well as improve cognitive function. Another study of acetyl-l-carnitine in people with chronic fatigue found a significant clinical improvement in symptoms, especially between the fourth and eighth week of treatment.

Ribose has also been studied with promising effects. In people suffering from chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, supplementation with ribose significantly improved energy, sleep, mental clarity and pain intensity with an average increase in energy of 45% within just 3-weeks.

In a second, larger scale study of people with chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, ribose supplementation for 3-weeks increased energy by 61.3%, overall wellbeing by 37%, sleep by 29.3%, mental clarity by 30% and decreased pain by 15.6% (see Figure 1).


Figure 1: Ribose improves chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia symptoms.

⦁ AGE –RELATED FATIGUE - Acetyl-l-carnitine can significantly benefit age related fatigue. Elderly subjects supplemented with acetyl-l-carnitine twice daily had a significant decrease of physical fatigue, mental fatigue, severity of fatigue and improvements in functional status and cognitive functions. They also had significant reductions in muscle pain, fatigue after exercise, and sleep disorders (see Figure 2).

Figure 2: Acetyl-l-carnitine reduces physical and mental fatigue

Ribose supplementation has been shown to quickly reduce physical fatigue and improve mental outlook in ageing adults. Supplementation for just 2–weeks resulted in a significant improvement in aerobic fitness measures (e.g. oxygen uptake efficiency and metabolic energy expenditure) and significantly improved subjective mental outlook and vitality.

⦁ MENTAL FATIGUE - Low brain cellular energy production is a feature of mental fatigue, low mood, depression, poor memory and cognitive function. This can be improved with nutrients that support mitochondrial function.

A meta-analysis of 21 placebo controlled studies of acetyl-l-carnitine for mild cognitive impairment and mild (early) Alzheimer's disease found a beneficial effect of acetyl-l-carnitine on both the clinical scales and the psychometric tests. Benefits were observed in memory, cognitive function and mood and were noticed within 3 months and increased over time.16

Acetyl-l-carnitine may also be effective for depression in the elderly. Fourteen patients aged between 70 and 80 years affected by depression were treated with acetyl-l-carnitine, while another fourteen received placebo. Compared to placebo, acetyl-l-carnitine significantly reduced depression scores.17


⦁ FIBROMYALGIA is a condition characterized by chronic widespread pain and fatigue. A combination of malic acid and magnesium resulted in significant reductions in the severity of pain and tenderness in people with fibromyalgia after 2 months of continued treatment.18 Another study also assessing a combination of magnesium and malic acid reported significant improvements in pain and tenderness. All patients reported significant subjective improvement of pain within 48 hours of starting the magnesium and malic acid (see Figure 3). 

Figure 3: Magnesium and malic acid improve fibromyalgia

Women with fibromyalgia were given 300 mg of magnesium citrate daily and after 8 weeks of treatment the number of tender points and depression scores decreased significantly with magnesium.

Fibromyalgia has also been shown to respond to acetyl-l-carnitine. Treatment with acetyl-l-carnitine resulted in a statistically significant reduction in depression, musculoskeletal pain and improved general physical and mental function.

⦁ HEART DISEASE - Nutritional support of mitochondrial energy production in the heart, one of the most energy dependent organs in the body, represents a new approach to the management and prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Ribose supplementation is known to provide metabolic support to the heart and has been studied extensively in cardiovascular illness.23 In particular, ribose supplementation can replenish low energy levels in heart muscle and improve the health of people with cardiovascular diseases.24 In one study for example ribose supplementation was shown to improve heart muscle function, increase exercise

tolerance, and improve quality of life in people with existing heart disease.

Magnesium deficiency has a strong relationship to increased cardiovascular disease risk.26 And extensive research has shown that magnesium supplementation can substantially impact heart disease risk factors including high blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, hyperglycemia, diabetes mellitus, left ventricular hypertrophy, and dyslipidemia.

Acetyl-l-carnitine can significantly reduce the risk of death in people who have had a heart attack and decrease other heart problems. An analysis pooling the collective data from 13 clinical trials including 3629 people in total, examined the ability of carnitine to reduce cardiovascular disease and death in people who had previously had a heart attack (acute myocardial infarction).
Compared with placebo the analysis found that acetyl-l-carnitine supplementation resulted in a 27% reduction in death from all-causes, 65% reduction in ventricular arrhythmias and 40% reduction in anginal symptoms.28


⦁ SPORTS PERFORMANCE - Magnesium plays a key role in biological processes that influence sports performance including muscle function, oxygen delivery, energy production and electrolyte balance. Strenuous exercise increases loss of magnesium through urine and sweat so that magnesium demands may be 10-20% higher in athletes than the normal population. 29 Dietary intakes of magnesium are often low in athletes with one survey finding that as many as half were consuming diets less than the recommended intake of magnesium for the general population. Magnesium deficiency can impair physical

performance and exercise capacity.

A study of men participating in a seven-week strength training program and consuming about 250 mg magnesium per day found that when they were supplemented with an additional 250 mg
magnesium, there was a greater increase in strength (peak knee-extension torque). In another study adults receiving a supplement of 250 mg magnesium per day demonstrated improvements in cardiorespiratory function during a 30 minute exercise test.32 Interestingly, citric acid, a component of magnesium citrate, has been shown to reduce fatigue from exercise, presumably because it is a key component of the cellular energy pathway in the mitochondria.

Ribose supplementation has been shown to lead to an enhanced re-synthesis of ATP in those under high intensity training. However, most studies have not found that ribose improves sports performance. One report did find that ribose supplementation for 4 weeks resulted in significant increases in muscular strength and total work performed in recreational bodybuilders.

Acetyl-l-carnitine supplementation has been shown to improve fitness and exercise performance in people suffering from moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.37 Elderly people with rapid onset muscle fatigue from exercise were shown to improve significantly with acetyl-l-carnitine supplementation.


Dosage:

Adults : Stir one heaped teaspoon into water or juice 1 – 2 times daily.
Children aged 5-12 years, stir one heaped teaspoon into water or juice once daily.


Potential applications:

Chronic fatigue, age related fatigue, mental fatigue, fibromyalgia related fatigue, muscle pain, muscle fatigue, brain fog, heart health and sports performance.


Contra-indications:

No safety issues have been reported at the recommended dose. Mild gastrointestinal side effects may occur at high doses.

Safety has not been established in pregnancy or breastfeeding so should be avoided unless under advice of a health care professional.


Interactions:

Magnesium may improve blood sugar and blood pressure – discuss with a health professional if using anti-diabetic or anti-hypertensive medication as it may reduce medication requirements.

Although ribose is a sugar (a five-carbon monosaccharide), it does not raise blood sugar and is used exclusively for energy production.

Acetyl-l-carnitine may increase the effect of blood thinning medication – use with caution.


INGREDIENTS: One rounded teaspoonful (6g) approximately provides: Ribose 3000mg Magnesium (as citrate) 300mg Acetyl-l-carnitine 750mg Malic Acid 250mgA nutritional kick-start providing high-potency support. Featuring Ribose with the supportive nutrients Magnesium, Acetyl-l-carnitine and Malic Acid