Interactions on record — worth a quick check against your medications. Based on 2 of 3 ingredients. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

D-Ribose With Vitamin B-12 Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Botanic Choice

Capsule Category: Other Combinations
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

D-Ribose With Vitamin B-12 is a dietary supplement by Botanic Choice with 3 active ingredients. Its ingredients are commonly taken for treating or preventing b12 deficiency, pernicious anemia, low energy and fatigue.Based on those ingredients, 86 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Bioenergy Ribose, Vitamin B12. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of D-Ribose With Vitamin B-12 by Botanic Choice

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 2 of its 2 active ingredients.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This product contains 2 active ingredients: vitamin B12 and ribose (marketed as Bioenergy Ribose). B12 is an essential vitamin your body uses for nerve function, red blood cell formation, and DNA synthesis — your body can't make it on its own, so it has to come from food or supplements.

Ribose is a five-carbon sugar that your cells use to make energy and rebuild muscle tissue after exercise or stress. The capsule itself is made from gelatin, with magnesium stearate and rice flour added as inactive ingredients to keep everything flowing smoothly during manufacturing.

Does it work?

Strong evidence
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed

This product doesn't appear to be marketed for a specific use, so we graded its ingredients' overall clinical evidence instead.

Strong

Strong clinical evidence supports its ingredients for:

Why this rating?
  • The label markets general wellness (“energy support”), not a specific health condition, so there is no single claim to grade against clinical-evidence data.
  • Since the label doesn't commit to one use, we graded the ingredients' overall clinical evidence instead.
  • On file: Imerslund-Grasbeck disease — rated "Effective" (Vitamin B12) (Natural Medicines).
  • On file: Vitamin B12 deficiency — rated "Effective" (Vitamin B12) (Natural Medicines).
  • On file: Cyanide poisoning — rated "Likely Effective" (Vitamin B12) (Natural Medicines).
  • On file: Hyperhomocysteinemia — rated "Possibly Effective" (Vitamin B12) (Natural Medicines).
  • On file: Postherpetic neuralgia — rated "Possibly Effective" (Vitamin B12) (Natural Medicines).

Vitamin B12 is effective for treating B12 deficiency and certain rare genetic diseases like Imerslund-Grasbeck disease. It's also likely effective for cyanide poisoning and possibly effective for canker sores and a nerve pain condition called postherpetic neuralgia.

Ribose, on the other hand, has not been shown to work for what it's often marketed for — the evidence doesn't support its use for athletic performance or muscle soreness. For other conditions like restless legs syndrome, heart failure, or recovery after bypass surgery, there simply isn't enough reliable evidence yet to say whether it helps or not.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Vitamin B12 Ribose

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 2 of the 2 matched ingredients.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 2 of 2.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 2 of 2.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Vitamin B12 is very well tolerated with no upper limit of safety — your body simply removes excess in urine. Most people have no problems with it; rare allergic reactions (rash, itching) have been reported, and in one case someone with a cobalt allergy reacted to oral B12.

Very rarely, correcting severe B12 deficiency can cause a dangerous drop in potassium levels, but this is not a concern with routine supplementation. Ribose is generally well tolerated for short-term use (up to a month), but it can lower blood sugar and its long-term safety hasn't been well studied.

Common side effects include diarrhea, nausea, headache, and in some people anxiety or lightheadedness — lowering the dose often resolves these. Because there isn't enough safety information, ribose is best avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

If you're pregnant or nursing, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about whether B12 supplementation alone might be a better choice for you.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Vitamin B12 Ribose

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 2 of the 2 matched ingredients can interact with medications — Ribose, Vitamin B12.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: diabetes medications.
  • For scale: 86 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Before you take this, check with your doctor or pharmacist if you're on insulin or any antidiabetes medication (like glipizide, glyburide, or others) — ribose may boost their blood-sugar-lowering effect. If you take metformin, flag it too, since the supplement's B12 could interact with how that medication affects your levels.

No other medication types have documented interactions with the ingredients we could check.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with strong clinical evidence behind its ingredients' uses. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

This product is straightforward if you need B12 replacement and don't take diabetes medications — B12 is safe and effective for deficiency. If you take insulin or antidiabetes drugs, you'll want to check with your doctor or pharmacist first, because the ribose could lower your blood sugar further.

Same conversation if you're on metformin, since that drug can already affect B12 levels. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are reasons to talk it over with your provider before starting.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 2 of 2 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Jan 25, 2018.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about D-Ribose With Vitamin B-12, straight from the product label.

Brand Botanic Choice
Barcode (UPC) 703308810905
Net contents 30 Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Jan 25, 2018
DSLD ID 77864
Product type Other Combinations
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses Nutrient, All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for D-Ribose With Vitamin B-12 by Botanic Choice, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
1 Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Capsule(s)
UPC/BARCODE
703308810905
IngredientAmount% DV
Calories5 Calorie(s)--
Total Carbohydrates1 Gram(s)1%
Sugar1 Gram(s)--
Vitamin B121000 mcg16667%
Bioenergy Ribose850 mg--

Other ingredients: Gelatin Capsule, Magnesium Stearate, Rice Flour

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

General Statements

Trusted since 1910 Essentials

Energy support

Formula

D-Ribose with vitamin B-12

Formulation

Gluten free

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested Use: Take 1 (one) capsule daily, with a meal, as a dietary supplement, or as directed by a physician.

Precautions

Warning: If you are taking any medications or are pregnant or nursing do not use prior to consulting a physician.

For your protection, this container has an outer safety seal. (Do not accept if missing or broken.)

Keep out of reach of children

FDA Disclaimer Statement

This statement has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Brand IP Statement(s)

Bioenergy Ribose is the property of Bioenergy Life Science, Inc.

IBG Indiana Botanic Gardens

Storage

Store in a dry, cool place.

General

C-104731

See for yourself

D-Ribose With Vitamin B-12 by Botanic Choice label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in D-Ribose With Vitamin B-12 by Botanic Choice

These are the 3 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Amounts shown are per serving.

Most supplement products combine several ingredients, and a medication can interact with the product through any one of them. Each ingredient below shows whether it has known drug interactions.

Sugar

1 Gram(s) per serving

Vitamin B12

Interacts with
20 drugs
1000 mcg per serving Form: Cyanocobalamin

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is an essential nutrient your body needs to make red blood cells, keep nerves healthy, and support DNA. Supplements are very h...

Vitamin B12 monograph & interactions

Bioenergy Ribose

Interacts with
86 drugs
850 mg per serving Form: D-Ribose, Powder

Ribose (D-ribose) is a simple sugar your body makes naturally and uses to build energy molecules like ATP. Some people take it for fatigue, fibromyalg...

Bioenergy Ribose monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Gelatin Capsule, Magnesium Stearate, Rice Flour. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

D-Ribose With Vitamin B-12 by Botanic Choice Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against D-Ribose With Vitamin B-12?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
86Drugs
86 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in D-Ribose With Vitamin B-12 with known interactions, here are the types of medications they can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Bioenergy Ribose2 drug types · 86 drugs

Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, taking ribose in combination with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
In clinical research, ribose decreases serum glucose levels in a dose-dependent manner.

Likelihood Probable Evidence B
Insulin

Theoretically, taking ribose with insulin could increase the hypoglycemic effect of insulin.
In clinical pharmacokinetic studies, oral administration of ribose modestly increased serum insulin levels.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B

Vitamin B121 drug type · 20 drugs

Metformin (Glucophage)

Metformin, a common medication used to manage type 2 diabetes, has been associated with lower vitamin B12 levels in some individuals. Prolonged use of metformin can interfere with the absorption of B12 in the digestive system, potentially leading to a deficiency in this essential vitamin.

Likelihood Possible Evidence A
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for D-Ribose With Vitamin B-12, from the product label.

Botanic Choice

See all Botanic Choice products
Name
Indiana Botanic Gardens, Inc.
Street Address
3401 W. 37th Ave.
City
Hobart
State
IN
ZipCode
46342
Phone Number
1-800-644-8327
Web Address
www.botanicchoice.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

D-Ribose With Vitamin B-12 by Botanic Choice: Common Questions

Does D-Ribose With Vitamin B-12 by Botanic Choice interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, D-Ribose With Vitamin B-12 has a known interaction with 86 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
D-Ribose With Vitamin B-12 contains 3 active ingredients, and an interaction can come from any of them. We check every ingredient, combine the results into one list per medication, and show which ingredient and mechanism is responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Will this help my B12 deficiency?
Yes — vitamin B12 is effective for treating B12 deficiency. If your doctor confirmed you're low, this supplement can help raise your levels back up.
Can I take this if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
Vitamin B12 is safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding at normal recommended amounts. But the ribose in this product doesn't have enough safety information for pregnancy or lactation, so you should talk with your doctor or pharmacist about whether B12 alone might be better for you right now.
What is ribose actually for?
Ribose is a sugar your cells use to make energy. It's often marketed for athletic performance and muscle soreness, but the evidence doesn't support those claims. For other uses like heart failure or recovery from surgery, there just isn't enough reliable evidence to know if it helps.
Are there any side effects?
B12 is very well tolerated — most people have no problems. Ribose can cause diarrhea, nausea, headache, or in some people anxiety or lightheadedness, especially at higher doses. These usually go away if you lower the dose.
I take metformin for diabetes — is this safe?
That's a good question to ask your doctor or pharmacist. Metformin can lower B12 levels over time, so B12 supplementation might help you. But the ribose in this product can also lower blood sugar, so you'll want your provider to weigh whether the benefit of the B12 outweighs that risk for your situation.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if D-Ribose With Vitamin B-12 is safe with your meds?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

D-Ribose With Vitamin B-12 label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

D-Ribose With Vitamin B-12's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 38 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Vitamin B12 30 references
  1. Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin B12, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, and Choline (2000). Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 2000. Available at: http://b
  2. Hartman TJ, Woodson K, Stolzenberg-Solomon R, et al. Association of the B-vitamins pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (B6), B12, and folate with lung cancer risk in older men. Am J Epidemiol 2001;153:688-94.. DOI
  3. Jansen T, Romiti R, Kreuter A, Altmeyer P. Rosacea fulminans triggered by high-dose vitamins B6 and B12. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2001;15:484-5..
  4. Lange H, Suryapranata H, De Luca G, et al. Folate therapy and in-stent restenosis after coronary stenting. N Engl J Med 2004;350:2673-81. PubMed
  5. Collin, S. M., Metcalfe, C., Refsum, H., Lewis, S. J., Zuccolo, L., Smith, G. D., Chen, L., Harris, R., Davis, M., Marsden, G., Johnston, C., Lane, J. A., Ebbing, M., Bonaa, K. H., Nygard, O., Ueland, P. M., Grau, M. V., Baron, J. A., Donovan, J. L., Nea
  6. Geissbuhler, P., Mermillod, B., and Rapin, C. H. Elevated serum vitamin B12 levels associated with CRP as a predictive factor of mortality in palliative care cancer patients: a prospective study over five years. J.Pain Symptom.Manage. 2000;20(2):93-103. PubMed
  7. Salles, N., Herrmann, F., Sakbani, K., Rapin, C. H., and Sieber, C. High vitamin B12 level: a strong predictor of mortality in elderly inpatients. J Am Geriatr.Soc 2005;53(5):917-918.
  8. Looker, H. C., Fagot-Campagna, A., Gunter, E. W., Pfeiffer, C. M., Sievers, M. L., Bennett, P. H., Nelson, R. G., Hanson, R. L., and Knowler, W. C. Homocysteine and vitamin B(12) concentrations and mortality rates in type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Metab Res R
  9. Uhl, W., Nolting, A., Golor, G., Rost, K. L., and Kovar, A. Safety of hydroxocobalamin in healthy volunteers in a randomized, placebo-controlled study. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2006;44 Suppl 1:17-28. PubMed
  10. Borron, S. W., Baud, F. J., Barriot, P., Imbert, M., and Bismuth, C. Prospective study of hydroxocobalamin for acute cyanide poisoning in smoke inhalation. Ann Emerg.Med 2007;49(6):794-801, 801. PubMed
  11. Borron, S. W., Baud, F. J., Megarbane, B., and Bismuth, C. Hydroxocobalamin for severe acute cyanide poisoning by ingestion or inhalation. Am J Emerg.Med 2007;25(5):551-558. PubMed
  12. Lewis, J. G. Gout, Steatorrhoea, and Megaloblastic Anaemia. Ann Rheum.Dis 1962;21(3):284-286. PubMed
  13. Tal, S., Shavit, Y., Stern, F., and Malnick, S. Association between vitamin B12 levels and mortality in hospitalized older adults. J Am Geriatr.Soc 2010;58(3):523-526. PubMed
  14. Baztan, J. J., Gavidia, J. J., Gomez-Pavon, J., Esteve, A., and Ruiperez, I. High vitamin B12 levels and in-hospital mortality. J Am Geriatr.Soc 2010;58(11):2237-2238. PubMed
  15. Omboni, E., Checchini, M., and Longoni, F. [Hypopotassemia and megaloblastic anemia. Presentation of a case]. Minerva Med 8-31-1987;78(16):1255-1257.
  16. Aalfs As, Scholvinck LH, Horvath B. Acneiform eruption in a 5-year old due to vitamin B12 supplementation. Eur J Dermatol 2013;23(5):726-7. PubMed
  17. Balta I, Ozuguz P. Vitamin B12-induced acneiform eruption. Cutan Ocul Toxicol 2014;33(2):94-5. PubMed
  18. Carman KB, Belgemen T, Yis U. Involuntary movements misdiagnosed as seizure during vitamin B12 treatment. Pediatr Emerg Care 2013;29(11):1223-4. PubMed
  19. Djuric V, Bogic M, Popadic AP, et al. Anaphylactic reaction to hydroxycobalamin with tolerance to cyanocobalamin. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2012;108(3):207-8. PubMed
  20. Kartel O, Gulec M, Demirel F, et al. Vitamin B12 allergy and successful desensitization with cyanocobalamin: A case report. Allergol Immunopath (Madr) 2012;40(5):324-5.
  21. Patiroglu T, Unal E, Yildirim S. Infantile tremor syndrome associated with cobalamin therapy: A case report. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2013;115(9):1903-5. PubMed
  22. Schulte S, Barkema LW, Kardaun SH. Long-lasting atypical acneiform eruption with prominent comedones induced by hydroxocobalamin (vitamin B12). J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 2014;12(6):502-3.
  23. Zanus C, Alberini E, Costa P, et al. Involuntary movements after correction of vitamin B12 deficiency: A video-case report. Epileptic Disord 2012;14(2):174-80. PubMed
  24. Fanidi A, Carreras-Torres R, Larose TL, et al. Is high vitamin B12 status a cause of lung cancer? Int J Cancer. 2019 Sep 15;145(6):1499-1503. PubMed
  25. Fujita Y, Mizukami T, Maya Y, et al. Vitamin B12 allergy manifesting as lymphomatoid contact dermatitis. Eur J Dermatol. 2020;30(3):304-305. PubMed
  26. Dépret F, Hoffmann C, Daoud L, et al. Association between hydroxocobalamin administration and acute kidney injury after smoke inhalation: a multicenter retrospective study. Crit Care. 2019;23(1):421. PubMed
  27. Khairan P, Sobue T, Eshak ES, et al. Association of dietary intakes of vitamin B12, vitamin B6, folate, and methionine with the risk of esophageal cancer: the Japan Public Health Center-based (JPHC) prospective study. BMC Cancer 2021;21(1):982. PubMed
  28. Evans J, Pandya A, Ding Y, Qunibi WY. Hydroxocobalamin-Induced Oxalate Nephropathy in a Patient With Smoke Inhalation. Kidney Int Rep 2021;6(8):2228-2231. PubMed
  29. Lacombe V, Chabrun F, Lacout C, et al. Persistent elevation of plasma vitamin B12 is strongly associated with solid cancer. Sci Rep 2021;11(1):13361. PubMed
  30. Pegalajar-García MD, Cebolla-Verdugo M, Prados-Carmona Á, Llamas-Segura C, Navarro-Triviño FJ. Systemic allergic dermatitis to cobalt present in cyanocobalamin supplementation. Contact Dermatitis 2023;89(3):203-205. PubMed

See these in context on the Vitamin B12 monograph →

Ribose 8 references
  1. Segal S, Foley J. The metabolism of D-ribose in man. J Clin Invest 1958;37:719-35. PubMed
  2. Perlmutter NS, Wilson RA, Angello DA, et al. Ribose facilitates thallium-201 redistribution in patients with coronary artery disease. J Nucl Med 1991;32:193-200.
  3. Hegewald MG, Palac RT, Angello DA, et al. Ribose infusion accelerates thallium redistribution with early imaging compared with late 24-hour imaging without ribose. J Am Coll Cardiol 1991;18:1671-81. PubMed
  4. Pliml W, von Arnim T, Stalein A, et al. Effects of ribose on excercise-induced ischaemia in stable coronary artery disease. Lancet 1992;340:507-10.
  5. Burke ER. D-Ribose What You Need To Know. Garden City Park, NY: Avery Publishing Group 1999;1-43.
  6. Gross M, Reiter S, Zollner N. Metabolism of D-ribose administered continuously to healthy persons and to patients with myoadenylate deaminase deficiency. Klin Wochenschr 1989;67:1205-13. PubMed
  7. Teitelbaum JE, Johnson C, St Cyr J. The use of D-ribose in chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia: a pilot study. J Altern Complement Med 2006;12:857-62. PubMed
  8. Thompson J, Neutel J, Homer K, Tempero K, Shah A, Khankari R. Evaluation of D-ribose pharmacokinetics, dose proportionality, food effect, and pharmacodynamics after oral solution administration in healthy male and female subjects. J Clin Pharmacol 2014;54 PubMed

See these in context on the Ribose monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring