Q. I have been fighting congestive heart failure since I had a serious heart attack 10 years ago. I saw a mention of the benefits of D-ribose for people with heart failure.
I have found this supplement a lifesaver for me in my weakened condition. I take it spread out in equal doses after each meal. I also take L-carnitine and CoQ10 daily. This mix maintains my energy levels and general functioning.
Despite an ejection fraction of 10 (normal is 55 to 70), I have a fairly normal lifestyle, including a 20-minute walk each day. If I don’t take D-ribose for more than a day, I become a virtual invalid again.
I want other heart failure patients to know about this if it would work for them. As far as I am concerned, it’s nothing short of a miracle! I have repeatedly told my cardiologist about D-ribose, but she gives me the usual response: “There is no valid research on this.” Do you know of any?
A. D-ribose is a kind of sugar that provides energy for cells. One study tested exercise capacity in heart failure patients and found it improved with D-ribose supplementation (International Journal of Cardiology, Sept., 2009).
