|
| |
| Statins are arguably the most effective class of drugs ever
created for lowering cholesterol. According to one study,
statin use can reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol by as much as
60 percent.1 |
1 Pfizer, Inc.
study reported in The New York Times: “From Cause To
Cure”, February 29, 2004.
2 Littarru,
G.P., Energy and Defense. Rome. C.S.E.I., 1994:23.
|
Statins reduce LDL cholesterol by inhibiting a
key enzyme, HMG Co-A Reductase, in the cholesterol
biosynthetic pathway. This
biosynthetic pathway is shared by other important compounds,
including CoQ10. Research shows that the process
by which statins inhibit the production of cholesterol
in this pathway simultaneously inhibits the body’s
production of CoQ10.
Studies have shown a correlation between low levels
of CoQ10 and some demonstrated side effects of statin
use. According
to conservative Physicians' Desk Reference estimates, 0.5
percent to 2.3 percent of patients who use statins may
experience side effects. This percentage may sound small,
but considering that roughly 30 million Americans with
high cholesterol take statins, more than half a million
people in the U.S. alone may suffer from side effects.
Reported adverse effects of long-term statin use include:
- Muscle pain, weakness and
tenderness that can signal a serious condition
called skeletal muscle myopathy, which involves
damage to muscles tissue.
- Partial or total memory
loss
- Tingling, numbness or burning
pain, often in extremities, caused by peripheral
neuropathy
- Cardiomyopathy, and congestive
heart failure
Therefore, if you are taking statins for
high cholesterol or are considering taking them, talk to
your doctor about possible side effects and whether CoQ10
supplementation is right for you.
|
