Trauma, surgery, inflammation, subfertility, pregnancy, lactation problems, gut disorders, infant nutrition, cancer, arthritis and other joint problems, vascular problems and cardio-or cerebro-vascular problems, ischaemia, aging, impaired immune function, burns, sepsis, malnutrition, problems with liver, pancreas or kidneys, malaria, cystic fibrosis, migraine, neurological problems, respiratory infections, improvement of sports results, muscle soreness, drug intoxication and pain can be treated with a nutritional composition containing effective amounts of ribose and folic acid, optionally combined with other components such as niacin, histidine, glutamine, orotate, vitamin B6 and other components.