Take CoQ10 if You Take Statins
A deficiency of coenzyme Q10 has been linked or associated with impairment of myocardial function, liver dysfunction and with myopathies (which includes cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure). If you are taking HMG CoA reductase inhibitors (aka Statins) then you are advised to take 100 to 200 mg per day of supplemental coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10).
There are been numerous studies that report and conclude that even a minor exposure to atorvastatin can cause a significant decrease in blood CoQ10 concentration. This can lead to a lack of energy, or a feeling of being tired. This could be an explanation for some of the common reported adverse effects of statins. Most studies indicate that CoQ10 depletion can occur within 14 days of using statin therapy. It is for this reason that many physicians recommend CoQ10 after their patients report that they are experiencing the side effects of statins.
The nutrition website newhope360 has reported that CoQ10 lowers cholesterol by 12.7 percent. They reported on a new study that found,
"150 mg per day of coenzyme Q10 lowered LDL cholesterol levels, begging the question: Are statin drugs really necessary? And what does the Canadian health care system know about the nexus of statin drugs and coQ10 that the American system refuses to acknowledge?"
CoQ10 or Coenzyme Q10 was given to 53 healthy young males at a serving size of 150 mg per day for two weeks. The results led to a 4.8-fold increase in CoQ10 levels in the blood and a very significant 12.7 percent decrease in LDL cholesterol. These were the findings of a study published in the journal IUBMB Life on August 29th.
The coQ10 “induces characteristic gene expression patterns, which are translated into reduced LDL cholesterol levels and altered parameters of
CoQ10 is said to have several benefits for your body. One benefit is that Coenzyme Q10 can help to prevent free-radical damage of the mitochondria which is the power plant for your cells. CoQ10 also helps to fuel the mitochondria which is particularly present in your heart.
There have been several other articles published in the European Journal of Pharmacology and other well known journals that help to corroborate the findings for CoQ10.