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Winter 2008 C0-Q10: AND CHOLESTEROL LOWERING DRUGS COENZYME Q10, is a compound found in all human cell membranes and in the mitochondria (the powerhouse cell). It is also known as: Ubiquinone. This coenzyme helps convert food into energy, acts as an antioxidant to protect cells, from death or damage. C-Q10, is made by the body. If the body is deemed unhealthy, decreased levels can occur. Such cellular circumstances as: malnutrition, aging, cancer drugs, gene mutation, impairment in Co-Q10 production, and the use of cholesterol lowering drugs, all lead to deficiency.Statin drugs are one of the most popular drugs to lower cholesterol. However, confirmed side effects of this drug include myositis, myopathy, and rarely rhadomolysis (breakdown of skeletal muscle). Why is this?Statin drugs interfere with the production of C0-Q10 production. Remember C0-Q10, plays a role in the mitochondrial energy output. Thus is a result in myopathy (Marcoff L. Thompson PD. The role of C0-Q10 in statin-associated myopathy. A systematic review. JAm Coll Cardio 2007; 49(23): 2231-7). There have been many other studies, all confirming the same findings. The largest and longest study finds people on statin drugs where consistently showing lower levels of ubliquione. Using, Simvastatin, 20 mg, for four weeks, serum CO-Q10 levels dropped 32%, muscle C0-Q10 increased 47% (Laaksonen R et al. Decrease in serum ubliquinone do not result in reduced muscle levels during short duration. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2005; 78(1):60-8). But 80 mg showed significant decrease in muscle CQ-10, in only eight weeks. So what can we do, if we have to ingest statins? First check with your doctor, about supplementing ubliquinone. CQ-10 has been examined for safety even at very high doses up to900 mg. The average person may want to start around 60 to 100 mg. after checking with their doctor.
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