Compiled from various sources,
By Michael C Biamonte CCN.
Statin drugs have become very popular and are being widely prescribed in recent years to lower high blood cholesterol and thus reduce the risk for heart disease. These drugs block cholesterol production in the body by inhibiting the enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase in the early steps of its synthesis in the mevalonate pathway. This same biosynthetic pathway is also shared by CoQ10. Therefore, one unfortunate consequence of Statin drugs is the unintentional inhibition of CoQ10 synthesis. Thus, in the long run, Statin drugs could predispose the patients to heart disease by lowering their CoQ10 status, the very condition that these drugs are intended to prevent. Based on this fact, any doctor prescribing a Statin drug should additional prescribe C0-Q10 along with the drug to prevent a heart attack from occurring!
Dr. Emile Bliznakov, an authority on CoQ10, recently published a scholarly review on the interaction between Statin drugs and CoQ10 (Bliznakov and Wilkins, 1998). He wrote the best-selling book “The Miracle Nutrient Coenzyme Q10” several years ago and it is still being hailed as the best reference book on CoQ10 (Bliznakov, 1987).
The reduction of CoQ10 levels might be associated with myopathy, a rare adverse effect associated with Statin drugs. This metabolic myopathy is related to ubiquinone (CoQ10) deficiency in muscle cell mitochondria, disturbing normal cellular respiration and causing adverse effects such as rhabdomyolysis, exercise intolerance, and recurrent myoglobinuria. (DiMuro S., Exercise intolerance and the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Ital J Neurol Sci. Dec. 1999;20(6):387-393).
It is important to note that Coenzyme Q10 supplementation does not interfere with the very important cholesterol-lowering effect of Statin drugs such as LipitorR and ZocorR. Therefore, if you are taking a Statin drug, (especially for an extended period of time), you may want to consider discussing CoQ10 supplementation with your health care professional.
The bottom line is that the popular and widely prescribed cholesterol lowering drugs called “Statins” can block the synthesis of Coenzyme Q10 in the body which may lead to sub-optimal CoQ10 levels. Supplementation with Q-Gel CoQ-10 is a prudent approach when undergoing “Statin” therapy.
But, don’t just take our word for it. One of the world’s premier Pharmaceutical Companies and the manufacturer of the 2nd largest selling Statin drug have not one but two US Patents regarding the use of Coenzyme Q10 with HMG-COA Reductase Inhibitors (Statins). You can read the full contents of these patents for yourself on the official United States Patent and Trademark Office web site (www.uspto.gov/). It is interesting to note that both of these patents were issued over twelve years ago (May and June of 1990) but that no use of the patented process of combining Coenzyme Q10 with HMG-COA Reductase Inhibitors (Statins) has yet been made or publicized.
The Patent numbers you will want to look up are: Patent Number: 4,933,165 Patent Number: 4,929,437
Below is a verbatim sample from Patent Number 4,933,165.
“What is claimed is:
1. a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutical carrier and an effective antihypercholesterolemic amount of an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor and an amount of Coenzyme Q.sub.10 effective to counteract HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor-associated skeletal muscle myopathy.
2. a composition of claim 1 in which the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor is selected from: lovastatin, simvastatin, pravastatin and sodium-3,5-dihydroxy-7-[3-(4-fluorophenyl)-1-(methylethyl)-1H-Indole-2yl]- hept-6-enoate.
3. A method of counteracting HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor-associated skeletal muscle myopathy in a subject in need of such treatment which comprises the adjunct administration of a therapeutically effective amount of an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor and an effective amount of Coenzyme Q.sub.10 to counteract said myopathy.
4. a method of claim 3 in which the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of: lovastatin, simvastatin, pravastatin and sodium-3,5-dihydroxy-7-[3-(4-fluorophenyl)-1-(methylethyl)-1H-Indole-2yl]- hept-6-enoate.”
To access these patents: Go to the official United States Patent and Trademark Office web site at (www.uspto.gov/). (We certainly hope you’ll come back to epic4health.com later!). From the Patent offices home page “click” on the Patents button, then “click” on “Search Patents”, then click on “Patent Number Search”. Type in the patent number (4,933,165) in the “Query Box” and “click” on the search button. The Patent number and title will show up, then just click on the patent number and you will be able to read the full documentation, including who is assigned the patent. I’ve probably made this whole search process sound harder than it really is — give it a try, you may be surprised by what you learn.
Below you will find additional information for other experts;
Chris Gupta
…”Statins could initiate and/or accelerate malignant growth by a) blocking the production of Coenzyme Q10, which has been shown to have anti-cancer effects; b) stimulating the growth of new blood vessels that malignancies require to promote their propagation; C) decreasing the cytotoxicity of natural killer cells; d) blocking the production of squalene, an intermediate cholesterol metabolite with anti-cancer activities in animal studies and currently used as adjunctive therapy in treating cancer; e) reducing the production of DHEA, which has been shown to have anticancer and immune stimulating effects in experimental studies.”…
High Cholesterol May Protect Against Infections and Atherosclerosis
…”Incredibly Merck formula and Patent rights* for CQ10 were sold to the Japanese circa 1958 as this would compete with their blockbuster drug Diuril. Fortunately, the Japanese were able to synthesize large quantities of this nutrient, where is it has been used for over 30 years as an effective treatment for heart disease.”…
GETTING BOOTED FROM A DRUG INDUSTRY-SUPPORTED WEBSITE
…”Statin-induced CoQ10 depletion is well documented in animal and human studies with detrimental cardiac consequences in both animal models and human trials. Furthermore, this drug-induced nutrient deficiency is dose-related and more notable in settings of pre-existing CoQ10 deficiency such as in the elderly and in heart failure.”…
CQ10
CoQ10 Depletion.
The Achilles Heel of the Statin Crusade.
Peter H. Langsjoen , M.D., F.A.C.C.,
Cardiovascular Diseases. Research in Biomedical Aspects of Coenzyme Q10.
Tel (903) 595-3778, Fax (903) 595-4962 1107 Doctors Dr., Tyler, Texas 75701,USA.
The depletion of the essential nutrient coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) by the increasingly popular cholesterol lowering drugs, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) has grown from a level of concern to one of alarm. With ever higher Statin potencies and dosages, and with steadily shrinking target LDL cholesterol, the prevalence and severity of CoQ10 deficiency is increasing noticeably to the physicians in the trenches of front line patient care. An estimated 36 million Americans are now candidates for Statin drug therapy.
CoQ10 serves as the coenzyme for mitochondrial enzyme complexes I , II and III and is essential for mitochondrial ATP production. CoQ10 is also a clinically relevant fat-soluble antioxidant and is the only fat soluble antioxidant that is known to be synthesized de novo. It is found normally in the diet, predominantly in organ meats and is biosynthesized in all cells with peak capabilities in late teens and early twenties with a gradual age-related decline in blood and tissue CoQ10 levels after the age of 30 years.
Statin-induced CoQ10 depletion has been documented in 15 animal studies in six different animal species and has been shown to correlate with decreased ATP production, increased ischemia reperfusion injury, skeletal muscle injury and increased mortality.
There are 15 published trials on Statin-induced CoQ10 depletion in humans. Of these 15 trials, nine were controlled trials, eight of which documented significant CoQ10 depletion. Statin-induced CoQ10 depletion has been shown to be associated with a fall in left ventricular function, an elevation of lactate to pyruvate ratio and an enhancement of LDL cholesterol oxidation. The current data on diastolic dysfunction further confirms the clinical importance of this drug-nutrient interaction.
Statin-induced CoQ10 depletion is well documented in animal and human studies with detrimental cardiac consequences in both animal models and human trials. Furthermore, this drug-induced nutrient deficiency is dose-related and more notable in settings of pre-existing CoQ10 deficiency such as in the elderly and in heart failure. Finally, Statin-induced CoQ10 deficiency is completely preventable with supplemental CoQ10 with no adverse impact on the cholesterol lowering or anti-inflammatory properties of the Statin drugs.