Statin Self-defense

While in the health-food store the other day, I met a friend who was buying coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplements. "My doctor prescribed simvastatin (Zocor) for lowering my cholesterol, and now she insists that I also take CoQ10," she said.

I knew that CoQ10 is used to help cells produce the energy needed for cell growth and maintenance and that it also functions as a natural antioxidant, protecting the body from free-radical damage. Using it in conjunction with statins was new to me, however.

I called Mark Stengler, ND, editor of Boardroom's new newsletter, Bottom Line Natural Healing, to find out about it.

Statins Deplete CoQ10

Statin drugs can deplete CoQ10, he told me. Statins such as lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), simvastatin (Zocor) and atorvastatin (Lipitor) are in a class of cholesterol-lowering drugs known as reductase inhibitors. These drugs lower cholesterol by inhibiting the enzyme HMG CoA reductase, which the liver needs to manufacture cholesterol. When this enzyme is inhibited, less cholesterol is produced.

But the bad news, Dr. Stengler explained, is that this same enzyme, HMG CoA reductase, is also involved in the synthesis of CoQ10. That means the use of statin drugs can suppress CoQ10 production, sometimes up to 40%, which may lead to a CoQ10 deficiency and, in turn, assorted inflammation-based ills.

CoQ10 Deficiency is a Serious Matter

What happens when the body is deficient in CoQ10? The consequences can be very serious. Dr. Stengler's list of possible complications was sobering: Atherosclerosis, gingivitis (bleeding gums), fatigue, fibromyalgia and high blood pressure. In addition, because CoQ10 is used by heart cells to create energy, a deficiency can result in less efficient heart pumping action and arrhythmias. Low CoQ10 levels also can impair male fertility. And, finally, decreased levels of CoQ10 can lead to a weakened immune system.

With a list like this, an ounce of prevention is surely worth a pound of cure. If you are taking cholesterol-lowering medication, find out from your pharmacist or physician if your medication is a reductase inhibitor. If so, Dr. Stengler advises taking 100 mg of CoQ10 daily with meals. It is sold as a dietary supplement and is widely available in health-food stores and supermarkets. CoQ10 is also known as Q10, vitamin Q10, ubiquinone or ubidecarenone.

Be well,  Carole Jackson; Bottom Line's Daily Health News

Source:   Statin Self-defense;  Mark Stengler, ND, editor of Bottom Line's new newsletter, Natural Healing with Dr. Mark Stengler. He is author of The Natural Physician's Healing Therapies (Boardroom) and Prescription for Natural Cures (Wiley). Dr. Stengler is associate clinical professor, National College of Naturopathic Medicine, Portland, Oregon, and is in private practice at the La Jolla Whole Health Clinic, La Jolla, California.