CoQ10 and Statins (SQ-59)

Statin drugs are commonly prescribed to reduce high cholesterol; believed to be a major risk factor for coronary heart disease. Statins are very effective at what they are meant to do, which is to bring your cholesterol levels down. But long-term use is known to cause some serious side effects in some statin users.

And some of these side effects are thought to be triggered by depletion of CoQ10.

How statins deplete CoQ10 (and other bioactive molecules)?

It is all related to the way statin drugs work to reduce your cholesterol levels. Statins block the production of HMG Co-A reductase, an enzyme responsible for cholesterol synthesis through the mevalonate pathway. Now this complex enzymatic pathway not only makes cholesterol, it leads to the synthesis of several other important molecules such as vitamin D, selenoproteins, stress hormones, sex hormones and coenzyme Q10 also known as ubiquinone.

By inhibiting the enzyme involved in cholesterol production, statins also end up interfering in the production of a range of other bio-active molecules that are involved in carrying out various cellular processes required for a healthy, well-functioning body. This statin-induced meddling affects your health in more ways than one.

What is CoQ10 and why it is so important?

Coq10 is a vitamin like substance produced naturally by the body and is found in all cells. It has two important functions in the body:

• An indispensable ingredient in energy (ATP) making process in the mitochondria.
• Works as a powerful anti-oxidant and protects important cellular structures such as DNA, proteins and lipids from oxidative damage caused by free radicals.

Your cells need a tremendous amount of energy to do their job, which includes reproduction, repair, detoxification and fighting off disease and infections. While every cell in your body depends on CoQ10 for its energy needs, it is found to be abundant in tissues where energy consumption is much higher, such as heart and skeletal muscles. For that reason, even a small decrease in CoQ10 levels can cause damaging side effects in muscles and the heart.

Effect of low CoQ10 levels on muscle functions

Many people who take statins often complain of muscle pain, muscle fatigue and aching joints. A 2013 study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that these effects could be due to “inhibitory effect on coenzyme Q10 synthesis, selenoprotein synthesis and the mitochondrial respiratory chain.” [1]

Statins can also cause a rare but life-threatening condition called rhabdomyolysis when there is too much muscle damage. In this condition, damaged muscle fibres quickly disintegrate and release myoglobin (a type of protein) in the blood. Myoglobin cause kidney damage and can even lead to kidney failure. Could CoQ10 supplements help? Studies suggest that CoQ10 supplements may reduce myalgia (muscle pain) and mild-to-moderate muscular symptoms associated with statin use. [2] [3]


 
Effect of low CoQ10 levels on heart functions

CoQ10 plays an incredibly important role in heart health. Your heart is the most energy consuming organ in the body and needs adequate levels of CoQ10 always, so as to efficiently do its job. When the heart muscle is deprived of CoQ10 for too long, it eventually weakens and fails to pump out sufficient amounts of blood – leading to heart failure.  

CoQ10 further supports heart health by preventing the oxidation of LDL cholesterol. LDL particles, when oxidized, trigger inflammation in the arteries and cause atherosclerosis or plaque formation within arteries, a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. It is obvious that CoQ10 deficiency would spell trouble for your heart, leading to all kinds of heart related problems such as heart failure, high blood pressure, endothelial damage and angina.  

A 2015 research provided some important insights in this context: “statins may be causative in coronary artery calcification and can function as mitochondrial toxins that impair muscle function in the heart and blood vessels through the depletion of coenzyme Q10 and 'heme A', and thereby ATP generation.” [4]

A growing body of evidence suggests that CoQ10 supplementation may be a helpful therapy for chronic heart failure, angina and high blood pressure. [5-7] It is also known to lower the risk of subsequent heart attacks [8] and protect the heart during cardiac surgeries. [9]

Are you wondering what could be the point of prescribing drugs that block the production of CoQ10 – the very molecule you need for a well-functioning heart? Especially when there is no real evidence that lowering cholesterol levels would actually translate into decreased risk of heart disease? On the contrary, science tells us that statins are almost ineffective in lowering the risk of heart attack in most people. In fact, these drugs, due to their inhibitory effects on the synthesis of other significant molecules besides CoQ10, contribute to many other side effects in users such memory loss, cognitive decline, diabetes and cataracts.

While experts are busy unravelling the role of cholesterol or the lack of it in heart attacks and stroke, you should take a high quality CoQ10 supplement alongside to mitigate the risks associated with statins.

References:

1. Mansi et al. Statins and Musculoskeletal Conditions, Arthropathies, and Injuries. JAMA Internal Medicine. 2013;173(14):1318-1326. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.6184.
2. Caso G et al. Effect of coenzyme q10 on myopathic symptoms in patients treated with statins. American Journal of Cardiology. 2007 May 15;99(10):1409-12. Epub 2007 Apr 3.
3. Skarlovnik et al. Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation Decreases Statin-Related Mild-to-Moderate Muscle Symptoms: A Randomized Clinical Study. Medical Science Monitor. 2014
4. Okuyama et al.  Statins stimulate atherosclerosis and heart failure: pharmacological mechanisms. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol. 2015 Mar;8(2):189-99. doi: 10.1586/17512433.2015.1011125. Epub 2015 Feb 6. 3.    
5. Mortensen SA et al. The effect of coenzyme Q10 on morbidity and mortality in chronic heart failure: results from Q-SYMBIO: a randomized double-blind trial. JACC Heart Failure. 2014
6. DiNicolantonio et al. Coenzyme Q10 for the treatment of heart failure: a review of the literature. Open Heart 2015.
7. Rosenfeldt et al. Coenzyme Q10 in the treatment of hypertension: a meta-analysis of the clinical trials. Journal of Human Hypertension (2007)
8. Singh et al.  Effect of coenzyme Q10 on risk of atherosclerosis in patients with recent myocardial infarction. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry. 2003
9. Frutos et al.  Prophylactic treatment with coenzyme Q10 in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: could an antioxidant reduce complications? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Interactive Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery. 2015

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