Cholesterol, High Cholesterol

Coenzyme Q10 and hyperlipidemia:

For further information about co-enzyme Q10, please see coenzyme Q10 section of Preventive Health Advisor. Although there is no standard for co-enzyme Q10 replacement, and monitoring, we recommend a co-enzyme Q10 supplement with statin medications to keep the level over 0.70 micromol/L, closer to healthy controls. As a guidance for dosing, a trial used co-enzyme Q10 to control blood pressure gradually over months by using doses of 75–360 mg daily to attain a therapeutic level of CoQ10 over 2.0 mcg/ml (89).

Coenzyme Q10 and statins:

In a group of 45 patients beginning treatment with 80 mg oral atorvastatin (a statin drug to reduce cholesterol levels), the average concentration of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in the blood decreased within 14 days, and had fallen by approximately 50% after 30 days of treatment. The mean CoQ10 concentration was reduced from 1.26 micrograms per milliliter to 0.62 micrograms per milliliter. Lower CoQ10 levels appear to be a major contributor to muscle pain, exercise intolerance and myoglobinuria (reddish urine associated with the breakdown of skeletal muscle fibers). (90)