For every action there is a reaction. Despite ongoing debates about the links among cholesterol, statins, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), and the theories connecting them to atherosclerosis, when one variable is treated, effects are expected, whether intended or not. The biochemical action of statins reduces the production of not only cholesterol, but also coenzyme Q10. If you take statins, the importance of CoQ10 is worth understanding.
Important Dynamics of Coenzyme 10
CoQ10 is synthesized within the mitochondria, a part of the cell where chemical reactions generate and transfer the energy necessary to sustain life. Mitochondria's ability to generate such power comes from a compound called adenosine triphosphate, or ATP. ATP transfers energy throughout the body. Without it, muscles would not contract and crucial metabolic steps would never begin, yet as vital as ATP is, its takes CoQ10 to even bring about this compound. In addition, CoQ10 is a principle antioxidant. In fact it's the only one the body makes, and its deficiency has been linked to heart failure, angina, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, hypertension, and mitral valve prolapse -- and that is speaking to the cardiovascular system alone.
Uses of Statins
Atherosclerosis is theorized as being causally connected with blood cholesterol levels, particularly with higher levels of cholesterol transported to cells via low-density lipoproteins, or LDL. Though the connection remains unclear, for decades the theory has garnered conventional support. Consequently, in the effort to reduce LDL cholesterol levels, statins have become the drug of choice. Formally, statins are known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, because they work not by activating a stop to LDL in route to atherosclerotic vessels, but rather by inhibiting the body's production cholesterol production -- and they do it quite well.
What Statins Do
As inhibitors, statins regulate the production of cholesterol by stopping the progression of cholesterol synthesis. Cholesterol synthesis is a complex and involves several steps of chemical reactions that in the end comprise not only a pathway that yields cholesterol, but also a pathway that yields ubiquinone -- otherwise know as CoQ10.
Statins and Consequence to CoQ10
Many studies are now emerging that implicate numerous consequences of statins interference with the body's synthesis of CoQ10. According to an article in the June 2011 issue of "Angiology," though statins do reduce blood LDL levels, they do so at the cost of increased myopathy, that is, muscle tissue disease. Since CoQ10 is concentrated in the mitochondria of not only skeletal muscle cells but also cardiac muscle cells, the potential for statins to augment cardiomyopathy is a subject increasing in interest and escalating in debate.
References
- "Biochimica et Biophysica Acta"; Biochemical, physiological and Medical Aspects of Ubiquinone Function. Ernster and Dallner; May 1995
- "Fundamentals of Anatomy & Physiology 8th Edition"; Frederic Martini, Pearson Education; 2009
- "Journal of Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis"; Inflammation and the Development of Atherosclerosis; Preston Mason et al; May 2011
- "Angiology"; Statin Myopathy: Significant Problem With Minimal Awareness by Clinicians and no Emphasis by Clinical Investigators; Whayne TF; June 2011
- "Nutrition"; Clinical Aspects of Coenzyme Q10: An update; Gian Paolo; May 2010
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