Improvement after a supplement is not the same as a comparative result
Start with the comparison. A before-and-after change alone cannot isolate the contribution of an ingredient.
D-Ribose
Selected research topic
Exercise performance
Findings differ across measurements or study conditions. The results below keep them separate.
- Publications for this topic
- 6
- Human comparison publications
- 2
- Publications needing review
- 2
Findings in the studies
muscle ATP recovery
- No clear difference from the comparison group was found.
What the comparison group used was not confirmed.
Single ingredientMeasurement and study conditions
- Study type
- Randomized controlled trial: subjects were randomly assigned to groups for comparison.
- Study population
- Human participants · Participant characteristics were not confirmed.
- Ingredients tested
- Single ingredient
- How results were compared
- Results were compared between groups.
- Measurement time
- Not confirmed.
peak PO
- A better result than the comparison group was reported.General population · Single ingredient · days 1 to 3
Measurement and study conditions
- Study type
- Randomized controlled trial: subjects were randomly assigned to groups for comparison.
- Study population
- Human participants · General population
- Ingredients tested
- Single ingredient
- How results were compared
- Results were compared between groups. · Study comparison: D-ribose vs dextrose in lower-VO2 subgroup
- Additional measurement information
- Secondary outcome
- Measurement time
- days 1 to 3
athletic performance
Research with unclear study subject or type
- A change was reported, but the comparison could not be confirmed.Single ingredient · Varied across reviewed studies
Measurement and study conditions
- Study type
- Review
- Study population
- Recorded population category: General population. Whether the research involved humans needs confirmation.
- Ingredients tested
- Single ingredient
- How results were compared
- Study comparison: Review-level synthesis; ATP restoration signal contrasted with limited translation into performance
- Additional measurement information
- Mechanistic outcome
- Measurement time
- Varied across reviewed studies
time to exercise-induced angina
Research with unclear study subject or type
- A change was reported, but the comparison could not be confirmed.Single ingredient
Measurement and study conditions
- Study type
- Review
- Study population
- Recorded population category: Patient group. Whether the research involved humans needs confirmation.
- Ingredients tested
- Single ingredient
- How results were compared
- Study comparison: review-level report; no comparator details provided
- Measurement time
- Not confirmed.
Representative outcome and study details
Studies with an unspecified organism reported a change with no confirmed comparison group in athletic performance.
Single-ingredient studies · comparator not confirmed
1 publications linked to this result
- Route, form, dose, or population details are incomplete, so the findings cannot be confirmed as directly comparable.
Data coverage and detailed study classifications
Paper counts are separated by research topic below. One paper may contribute to multiple findings.
Analysis status: Public-ready
Ingredient analysis date:
How the grade was determined: Not yet rated
The 0.0 evidence score includes 3 independent human studies and 3 clinical studies in the representative benefit area. The C tier remains conservative because of limited repetition across independent human clinical studies, a meaningful share of null findings in the same benefit area.
The grade is based mainly on the research area with the most evidence. It does not mean the same result was found in other areas.
Papers linked to this ingredient overall: 52
Papers linked to this topic 6 · distinct papers 6 · papers with a confirmed human comparison 2 · papers needing additional review 2
A publication may appear in more than one count. These numbers should not be added. Ingredient-wide papers, topic-linked papers, and sources in outcome groups use different scopes. Adding source counts may count the same paper more than once.
- athletic performance: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- muscle ATP recovery: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 1
- peak PO: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 1
- time to exercise-induced angina: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
What the research found
muscle ATP recovery
No clear difference in this measurement was found between the compared groups.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · Unspecified population
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
peak PO
The study reported improvement in this measurement.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · General population
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
athletic performance
A change was reported, but the comparison could not be confirmed.
Review · Single ingredient · General population
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
Review overlap with primary papers is unknown; counts stay separate.
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
time to exercise-induced angina
A change was reported, but the comparison could not be confirmed.
Review · Single ingredient · Patient group
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
Review overlap with primary papers is unknown; counts stay separate.
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Unspecified measured outcome
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · Unspecified population
The comparison could not be confirmed.
Analysis coverage and paper counts
2 papers · 2 measured outcomes
2 papers held from direction counts
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
How to read research findings
How should I read research findings?
Research guidesNo clear difference and an uninterpretable result are different
A reported null comparison contains a result. An abstract without an interpretable comparison leaves a question unresolved.
Paper counts and study counts are different
Count original research separately from research that reanalyzes it. Publication volume is neither replication nor a quality rating.
Side effects and combination findings
Findings from this ingredient alone are shown separately from those involving another supplement or medication.
No reviewed caution rules are available yet. Reported caution findings are shown below.
Review 1 combination findings and 0 findings that outperformed an ingredient alone.
Findings to review with care
Side effects reported for the ingredient alone are separated from findings involving another supplement or medication.
Side effects reported with this ingredient alone
Symptoms or adverse events reported in studies without another active ingredient.
Cytotoxicity1 papers
The review highlights potential negative effects of D‑ribose, including increased glycation and cytotoxicity, suggesting caution in its use.Human studies · Study type not identifiedReported improvements with combinations
Combination findings are grouped by how the study compared them. This is not a recommendation to combine ingredients.
Combinations with reported improvement
The combination showed improvement, but each ingredient's contribution is unclear.
크레아틴A double-blind RCT in 53 patients with ischemic heart disease found that a combination supplement containing D-ribose, creatine, and vitamins improved cardiac double product and exercise tolerance compared to placebo, though the authors note the surrogate measure requires further validation.