Thus concludes a new risk assessment of D-ribose, carried out by VKM on behalf of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. The assessment is a revision of a previous risk assessment from 2016.

D-ribose is an ingredient in food supplements sold in Norway. D-ribose is synthesized in all living cells and is available in small amounts in the diet via ripe fruits and vegetables. Excessive intake of D-ribose may increase the risk of hypoglycaemia, i.e. low blood sugar.

NFSA has requested a risk assessment of 3100 and 6200 mg/day of D-ribose in food supplements for the age groups children (10 to 18 years). The revised risk assessment includes new literature, and the conclusions from 2016 have been changed.

Conclusions

VKM concludes that a daily single dose of 6200 mg of D-ribose in food supplements may represent a risk of adverse health effects to these age groups.

For a daily single dose of 3100 mg D-ribose in food supplements the margin of exposure (MOE) is 1.0 for children (10 to <14 years). As the calculated exposure is based on a mean body weight for children and there were no available studies on children, we conclude that a daily single dose of 3100 mg of D-ribose in food supplements may represent a risk of adverse health effects for children in this age group.

For a daily single dose of 3100 mg D-ribose in food supplements the MOEs are 1.4 for adolescents (14 to <18 years) and 1.6 for adults (≥18 years). We conclude that it is improbable that a daily single dose of 3100 mg D-ribose in food supplements causes adverse health effects in adolescents and adults.