D-Ribose Benefits COPD
D MacCarter, L Shecterle, J St. Cyr
Keywords
copd, ribose
Citation
D MacCarter, L Shecterle, J St. Cyr. D-Ribose Benefits COPD. The Internet Journal of Pulmonary Medicine. 2006 Volume 7 Number 2.
Abstract
Patients with COPD have exercise limitations due to pulmonary function restrictions and heart stress, potentially producing alterations in energy levels. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a high-energy phosphate molecule, provides energy for the maintenance of cellular processes. D-ribose (DR), a natural occurring pentose carbohydrate, has shown to enhance ATP levels and improve cardiac function in ischemic cardiovascular disease
Case Report
Presented is a 65 year-old male with severe COPD due to a 42 year history of smoking, chronic ischemic heart disease with normal systolic function, hypertension and dyslipidemia. Though clinically stable, the patient continually experienced daily activity limitations. Current medications: diltiazem, isordil, atenolol, lovastatin, low dose aspirin, and an albuterol or atrovent inhaler. D-Ribose as a supplement was suggested.
Cardiopulmonary exercise evaluation utilized a sub-maximal STEP testing at baseline (pre-DR) and following 8 weeks of DR (5 gms, tid). At each evaluation, the patient exercised for 6 minutes (step up/step down cycle) with a recovery period of three minutes post exercise. During each exercise session, cardiopulmonary function and gas exchange parameters, such as Wasserman V slope, RER acceleration, VT/Ti acceleration, ventilatory efficiency (VE/ VCO2 slope), and O2 uptake efficiency slope were assessed. Global ventricular functional at anaerobic threshold was determined by O2 Pulse. Accumulated data was at the nadir of the VD/VT profile during sub-maximal exercise. Lung mechanics and perfusion, dead space nadir to tidal volume ratio, patterns of dynamic changes in end-tidal (ET) CO2 and the VT/RR ratio were also assessed.
Figure 1
Discussion
Patients with COPD commonly experience breathing difficulties with fatigue. These symptoms, even with aggressive therapies, not only reflect existing pulmonary disease, but can be associated with cardiac stress. This case study reports that DR provided benefits at anaerobic threshold.
Measured O2 pulse (pre-DR:12.2 ml O2/beat;post-DR:13.5 ml O2/beat), as a surrogate determinant of cardiac function, improved along with VE/VCO2 following DR. The slope of tidal volume to minute ventilation, as an indirect indicator of pulmonary compliance, also improved following DR. Subjectively, the patient was less short of breath.
The mechanism(s) responsible for these benefits are not obvious; however, since DR has demonstrated improvement in left ventricular diastolic dysfunction with reductions in left atrial size, left atrial pressures and volumes in heart failure patients.4 A reduction in the pulmonary venous to left atrial pressure gradient could result in greater pulmonary venous to left atrial flow and an improvement in ventilation-perfusion ratio, which could improve gas exchange.5
Progressive COPD produces clinical deterioration of both the lungs and heart. DR may potentially offer a benefit to both of these organs. The pulmonary measured parameters revealed substantial improvement with DR, but a controlled study of COPD patients is necessary to further substantiate this finding.