It seems barely a week goes by before some doctor or scientist is extolling the virtues of the cholesterol-quelling drugs known as statins. While these drugs have been vigorously promoted by the medical establishment, I do think it's important to be mindful of the fact that taking them is not without risk.
Statins have the potential for a range of side effects, which include liver damage, digestive symptoms, muscle pain, muscle weakness, and fatigue.
There is some evidence that at least some of the side effects of statin drugs are a direct result of their primary mode of action in the body.
Statins work by inhibiting enzymes in the cells responsible for the internal manufacturing of cholesterol. Unfortunately, the same enzyme suppressed by statin drugs is responsible for manufacturing a substance known as Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), which plays a critical part in the reactions that generate energy within our cells.
Several studies show that dosing up on statins can deplete the body of CoQ10. Bearing in mind CoQ10's starring role in the generation of energy in the body, it is perhaps no surprise that individuals taking statins long term can find themselves suffering from weakness, fatigue, and exhaustion. CoQ10 seems to be particularly important for maintaining the healthy functioning of the heart muscle.
Because it can take many months or even years after starting statin therapy for CoQ10 levels to be lowered sufficiently to provoke symptoms, it is easy for the drug's role in fatigue to go unrecognized.
In a recent study, researchers in New York tested the effect of CoQ10 supplementation in a group of 32 individuals taking statins who were experiencing muscular symptoms such as muscle pain [1].
Half the group was treated with CoQ10 at a dose of 100 mg per day, while the other half received vitamin E (400 IU per day), which might be regarded as a placebo in this study.
After 30 days, those taking the CoQ10 saw a 40 per cent decrease in muscle pain severity and a similar drop in the extent to which this pain affected their daily lives. By contrast, the taking of vitamin E did not lead to any significant changes in symptoms.
What this study shows is that CoQ10 supplementation may be of real benefit for individuals suffering from the side effects of statins. My advice is that if someone is taking or planning to take a statin drug, he should at least accompany it with some CoQ10.
References:
1. Caso G, et al. Effect of Coenzyme Q10 on Myopathic Symptoms in Patients Treated With Statins. The American Journal of Cardiology, 2007 May 15; 99(10): 1409-12.
Dr. John Briffa is a London-based doctor, author, and health writer with an interest in nutrition and natural medicine.
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