Coenzyme Q10 Reduces Statin Side Effect
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) improves statin-associated myopathy (muscle disease), according to a study published in February 2013. Statins are one of the most prescribed pharmaceuticals, and statin-associated muscle symptoms affect an estimated 10-15 percent of users. Statins reduce cholesterol and may reduce the synthesis of CoQ10, which is suspected to play a role in statin-induced muscle injury.
Sixty subjects with statin-induced myopathy received CoQ10 or a placebo for three months. The researchers evaluated for levels of CoQ10, selenium and creatine kinase—which is used as a marker of muscle injury—and symptoms of myopathy at the beginning of the study and again after one and three months of supplementation.
The investigators found that plasma levels of CoQ10 increased in the group supplemented with CoQ10. The subjects in the CoQ10 group also showed significant improvement in the symptoms of statin-associated myopathy compared to the placebo group.
More specifically, the CoQ10 group showed a 28.2 percent decrease in the intensity of muscle pain, muscle weakness decreased by 24 percent, muscle cramps decreased by 28 percent and tiredness decreased by 22 percent. The researchers did not find any changes in the placebo group.
The study authors stated, “In conclusion, supplementation of statin-treated patients with CoQ10 resulted in a decrease in the symptoms of statin-associated myopathy, both in absolute numbers and intensity. Additional selenium supplementation was not associated with any statistically significant decrease of statin-associated myopathy.”
Reference:
Fedacko J, et al. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 2013;2:165-70.
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