Statin medications are often prescribed for lowering low-density lipoprotein, or LDL cholesterol, which can block arteries and lead to heart disease. Statins include atorvastatin, or Lipitor; fluvastatin, or Lescol; lovastatin, or Mevacor; pravastatin, or Pravachol; rosuvastatin, or Crestor; and simvastatin, or Zocor. Along with lowering the enzyme in the body associated with cholesterol synthesis, however, statins also inhibit coenzyme Q10 synthesis. CoQ10 deficiency is linked to muscular, cognitive and cardiovascular health problems, which is why you may want to consider supplementing with it while taking statins.
Step 1
Talk to your doctor. Raise the issue of your coenzyme Q10 levels and your risk of deficiency. As humans age, their CoQ10 levels are already naturally decreasing. Your doctor will assess your personal risk factor with relation to depleted CoQ10 and how your statin medication may affect those levels.
Step 2
Determine your needed amount of CoQ10. Normal recommended dosage of CoQ10 for adults is 25 to 100 mg daily. In natural therapies for conditions such as heart disease, heart failure, diabetes and breast cancer, CoQ10 is used in doses of up to 100 to 360 mg per day or higher on a supervised supplementation plan. Determine with your doctor your personal health and nutritional needs for CoQ10 and what dose would be appropriate.
Step 3
Take a CoQ10 supplement. Determine what time of day to take your CoQ10 based on when you take your statin medication. Since the statin drugs are already interfering with your body's natural ability to assimilate CoQ10, take your CoQ10 supplement at a different time of day. However, since CoQ10 has energy-boosting, immune-supporting and antioxidant qualities, it may cause increased cellular activity in the body, which could interfere with falling asleep if taken at night. If you are currently taking your statins in the morning, discuss with your doctor the effects and method of changing the time of day you take it, so that you may take the CoQ10 earlier in the day.
References
- Nutritional Supplement Educational Center: CoQ10 and Statins
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Coenzyme Q10
- MayoClinic.com: Statins: Are These Cholesterol-lowering Drugs Right For You?
- ''A-Z Guide to Drug-Herb-Vitamin Interactions, 2nd Edition"; Alan R. Gaby, M.D; 2006
