Statins are prescription drugs that treat high cholesterol, a risk factor for heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the United States. Vitamin C may reduce cholesterol levels. However, combined use of statins and vitamin C may reduce the overall effectiveness of both substances to improve your cholesterol levels. Certain foods containing vitamin C, such as grapefruits, may interfere with statins and increase the potency of the drug. Consult your doctor about taking statins with foods and supplements that contain vitamin C.
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a substance your body needs to produce cell membranes, vitamin D, bile acids, hormones and other substances. Cholesterol can build up on the interior walls of your arteries, and eventually block the passage of oxygenated blood that needs to get to your heart and tissues and cause a heart attack, heart disease, stroke and death.
Cholesterol comes from two sources, your liver and foods in your diet. The three cholesterol-based parameters your doctor evaluates to determine your risk for heart disease are total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, the bad cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol, the good cholesterol. Reduce your risk of heart disease by lowering your levels of total and LDL-cholesterol and elevating your levels of HDL cholesterol.
Statins
Atorvastatin, lovastatin, simvastatin, fluvastatin and pravastatin are statin drugs used to lower your cholesterol levels in conjunction with a diet that is low in cholesterol, saturated fat and trans fat. Statins inhibit an enzyme, HMG-CoA reductase, that controls the rate at which you produce cholesterol in your liver and stimulates your liver to remove LDL-cholesterol from your blood. Taking statins may decrease your levels of total cholesterol, reduce LDL-cholesterol between 20 to 60 percent, increase your levels of HDL cholesterol and slow down the formation of plaque in your arteries. Statins are generally safe for most people and can be taken over many years, but are not recommended if you are pregnant or have chronic liver disease. Statins can cause rhabdomyolysis, a rare condition of severe muscle breakdown that can cause permanent kidney damage.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that may reduce your risk of heart disease. Research by Marc McRae MSc, DC, published in the "Journal of Chiropractic Medicine" in 2008 discovered that supplementation with at least 500 mg of vitamin C for a minimum of 4 weeks can significantly reduce serum LDL cholesterol. Earlier research by Dr. McRae published in the "Journal of Chiropractic Medicine" in 2006 found a very strong association between high levels of serum cholesterol and low plasma vitamin C and that increasing levels of vitamin C levels can reduce blood cholesterol. Despite the effectiveness of statins and vitamin C to each improve cholesterol levels, combining the two substances may weaken their ability to increase HDL cholesterol, according to research by Marian Cheung, Ph.D., published in "Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology" in 2001.
Citrus Fruits
Citrus fruits have a high content of vitamin C. Certain citrus fruits, such as grapefruits, pomelos and Seville oranges, may interfere with statins in the digestive tract, potentiate the effects of the drug and increase the amount of time the drug can stay in your body. Consult your doctor about which foods you should avoid while taking statins.
References
- Centers For Disease Control and Prevention: Cholesterol Fact Sheet
- American Heart Association: About Cholesterol
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: Statins
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health: Statins
- Food and Drug Administration: FDA Drug Safety Communication: Ongoing Safety Review of High-Dose Zocor (Simvastatin) and Increased Risk of Muscle Injury
