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Health News Archive 327 - Congestive Heart Failure
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D-Ribose as Adjunctive Therapy for Congestive Heart Failure

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is being described by many in the medical profession as "the next epidemic." And some mind-numbing numbers seems to support that conclusion.  Consider that five million Americans have CHF; up to 700,000 new cases are diagnosed every year; and CHF plays a part in the deaths of 250,000 people in the U.S. alone.  The most common cause of CHF these days is ischemic heart disease. Ischemia is reduced blood flow, usually caused by blocked arteries, and it accounts for 70-percent of heart failure cases in this country.

In a study presented to the Heart Failure Society of America in Boca Raton, Florida, D-ribose, a natural occurring pentose carbohydrate, has repeatedly shown to enhance high energy phosphates and improve diastolic dysfunction following myocardial ischemia.

"As cardiologists know, CHF patients have decreased levels of myocardial high energy compounds contributing to myocardial dysfunction," states Bioenergy, Inc's Medical Director John St. Cyr, MD, PhD. "Further, advanced class CHF patients have compromised oxygen utilization efficiency, or ventilatory efficiency (Veff) as it is often referred to. This limits their exercise reserve even during sub-maximal exertion. After using D-ribose for eight weeks the patients in this study demonstrated a significant improvement in ventilatory efficiency, the most powerful predictor of survival in CHF patients."

A two-center study investigated the effect of Ribose on ventilatory efficiency in CHF patients (NYHA Classes II-IV). 23 patients consumed five grams of Ribose orally three times a day. Repeat cardiopulmonary exercise tests using a four-minute sub-maximal step protocol was completed and a retrospective analysis was performed after the eight-week routine clinical visit. Ventilatory efficiency was assessed up to the anaerobic threshold at baseline and at eight weeks of Ribose.

D-ribose significantly improved ventilatory efficiency in patient Classes III and IV, with a trend towards improvement in Class II patients. Oxygen uptake efficiency demonstrated a strong trend in Classes III and IV.

"These patients demonstrated improved heart function and an increased ability to utilize oxygen," said Nampalli Vijay, MD, one of the leaders of the study. "We believe D-Ribose should be considered as an adjunctive therapy for all Class III and IV CHF patients."

Source: Heart Failure Society of America in Boca Raton, Florida, October 2005