Approximately 11 million Americans are on statin medications, and their use has steadily risen over the last 20-30 years. Statin medications are primarily used to lower total and bad (LDL) cholesterol by blocking the ability for the body to make its own cholesterol. There are also other drugs that reduce cholesterol by reducing the amount absorbed from food in the digestive system.
This post is not designed to sway people from taking these medications, rather to educate you on other processes in the body that statins inhibit. For statins to work they have to reduce cholesterol formation at some point in the process—but unfortunately this also doesn’t allow another important molecule to be formed in normal quantities. This is CoQ-10, and it is extremely important for the body to function, in fact without it you wouldn’t be alive.
CoQ-10 is essential for energy production in our cells, and is especially important in parts of the body that are metabolically active, such as muscles, nerves cells etc. When a statin is taken, it reduces the amount of CoQ-10 as a byproduct of limiting cholesterol production.
Sometimes when people take statins, they experience side effects such as fatigue, muscle soreness, memory loss, dizziness, and liver damage. This is why your doctor will at least once per year draw blood and check liver enzymes—to assess for any damage. Not everyone will have these reactions—but regardless of side effects or not, realize that C0Q-10 reduction is a part of taking statins
What I recommend to patients is that they supplement with 100-200 mg/day of C0Q-10 to offset the potential side effects of these medications. Also understand that many common prescription drugs besides statins reduce the formation of vitamins and minerals in the human body. Do some research on the side effects and nutrient deficiencies of medications you take—and supplement with a good multivitamin accordingly. There is another article on our website that will guide you through the process of choosing quality supplements.