thanks....i wonder though, if that not at least tangentially improve mood.....

Hubby is pleased that I am less "cranky"... easy to frustrate, etc.
Being in pain all the time tends to make me irritable. The nagging aggravating pain, IS less now.

I think there is some cognitive improvement with the energy improvements. But actual antidepressant effects, seems a stretch to me.

The ribose effects are SLOW... so anyone willing to try it, must be patient. This is the slowest supplement I have tried over the years!

what brand are you using? my energy levels have bottomed out for the last few months.

My first tub is Doctor's Best, from iherb. It comes in 8oz. and has a 5 gram scoop.

I just replenished my supply from Puritan's. Also with a 5 gram scoop. I suspect most of the ribose comes from the same place and is just repackaged by various distributors. (Puritan's has a huge sale of buy one get 2 free now, so I got 3 of them for 49.00 which is a savings of about $35 over 3 at regular price at iherb--which was $28 each). Since I know I'll be using it now regularly I feel safe stocking up on 3 jars. At 5 grams a day (which appears to be low from what I am reading), 8 oz lasts about 1.5 months.

You will find capsules (not economical) and 100 gram containers too. But not larger than 8 oz. This powder is very attractive to moisture, and so I keep the jar tightly closed, and then in a ziploc baggie besides. It dissolves more slowly as the jar ages, but it does dissolve. It is not unpleasant to take, but I don't care for the "odor" of it.

But I do find the added energy nice. It is not a nervous energy like SAMe gives, but just a calm nice improvement in physical things. The stairs, especially!

New update.... this is day 3, of major improvements in my left ankle/foot pain, which has been considerable for several weeks.

The swelling is now down, and no throbbing (was having intermittent throbbing stabbing sensations there). This is my left foot, which I call the surgical foot..because I had a huge hemangioma removed 50 yrs ago from it..which bled all the time). The foot was pretty numb from nerve damage for over 20 yrs...then the nerves woke up and for some reason lately have really been acting up. I was getting worried that the tumor grew back under the skin and was compressing things! UGH!... can't face it again..after what I went thru back then!

I think the ribose has something to do with this change. So I am enjoying walking more normally now. The real test will be on vacation, where walking is challenging with all the rocks up there. We have removed most of them from the common paths, like to the outhouse, but still it can be hard on the feet to get around, explore, hike. I am taking my Dr. Scholl's Breakaway men's slip ons this year to leave up there--they are getting a worn look for here (I bought 3 pair last year, and good thing I did, because they are not available any more! --they have memory foam soles, and a thick bottom sole which I think will help on the rocks).

[QUOTE=mrsD;676271]

"We have removed most of them from the common paths, like to the outhouse, ..."

Yikes! An outhouse. This sounds like a vacation. Nothing worse than stubbing your toe on the way to the bathroom.

{grin}

Here is a new paper on d-ribose and improving cardiac failure:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20156124

Still using the ribose. I take it at night after supper.

I hover around 5 grams and 7.5grams daily. I am very pleased with it.

This is a very slow supplement that builds over time.

Here is another long and interesting article on d-ribose:

http://hubpages.com/hub/d-ribose

I have been taking 10 grams of Doctor's Best "Best D-Ribose" every morning since October 21, 2010.

So far:

-- I do not dislike the taste or the smell, and I enjoy mixing it with my morning pomegranate juice (50% pomegranate juice, 50% water).

-- I have not experienced any insomnia or sleeplessness as a result of taking this supplement.

-- I haven't had any trouble with the reported hygroscopic tendency of the powder.

-- While I have not gotten a sharp boost in energy from the d-ribose, I think it has enhanced my general sense of well-being. Perhaps it is making me a little stronger, and that is producing a feeling of better energy. Since I take it in the morning, with food (calories) and coffee (caffeine), there may be some "masking" of effects. I can say that I look forward to taking it each day, so maybe my body is telling me that it likes d-ribose.

Has anybody experimented with higher doses of d-ribose? Would 15-20 grams per day be safe?