CoQ10
Some research suggests that statin drugs may interfere with the body's production of Co q10, a substance produced naturally in the body and found in every cell. Co q10 has a key role in the mitochondria, the part of a cell that produces energy.
Statins have been found to decrease Co q10 production as a side effect of their action.
A Columbia University study in New York found that 30 days of statin therapy (80 mg/day) decreased Co q10 levels by half.
A Columbia University study in New York found that 30 days of statin therapy (80 mg/day) decreased Co q10 levels by half.
Another study by researchers at Kanazawa University in Japan found that smaller doses of statin drugs can reduce Co q10. After 8 weeks of 10 mg a day statin therapy, Co q10 levels decreased by 40 percent.
Some researchers suggest that this side effect may counteract any benefits of taking statins.
However, research on the use of Co q10 supplements in people taking statins is still inconclusive, and it is not routinely recommended in combination with statin therapy.
What is Co q10?
Co q10 is a naturally-occuring compound found in every cell in the body. Co q10's alternate name, ubiquinone, comes from the word ubiquitous, which means "found everywhere."
Co q10 plays a key role in producing energy in the mitochondria, the part of a cell responsible for the production of energy in the form of ATP.
Double-blind research suggests that Co q10 may reduce symptoms related to heart failure, such as shortness of breath, difficulty sleeping, and swelling. Co q10 is thought to increase energy production in the heart muscle, increasing the strength of the pumping action. However, recent human studies have not supported this.
641 people with congestive heart failure were randomized to receive either Co q10 (2 mg per kg body weight) or placebo plus standard treatment. People who took the Co q10 had a significant reduction in symptom severity and fewer hospitalizations.
32 patients with end-stage heart failure awaiting heart transplantation were randomized to receive either 60 mg of Co q10 or placebo for 3 months. Patients who took the Co q10 experienced a significant improvement in functional status, clinical symptoms, and quality of life, however there were no changes in echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) or in objective markers.
Another study randomized 55 patients with congestive heart failure to receive either 200 mg/day Co q10 or placebo in addition to standard treatment. Although serum levels of Co q10 increased in patients receiving Co q10, Co q10 didn't affect ejection fraction, peak oxygen consumption, or exercise duration.
A longer-term study investigated the use of 100 mg Co q10 or placebo in addition to standard treatment in 79 patients with stable chronic congestive heart failure. The results indicated that Co q10 only slightly improved maximal exercise capacity and quality of life compared with placebo.
Cardiomyopathy:
Several small trials have found Co q10 may be helpful for certain types of cardiomyopathy.
Parkinson's disease:
Lower levels of Co q10 have also been observed in people with Parkinson's disease. Preliminary research has found that increasing Co q10 may increase levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is thought to be lowered in people with Parkinson's disease.
A small, randomized controlled trial examined the use of 360 mg Co q10 or placebo in 28 treated and stable Parkinson's disease patients. After 4 weeks, Co q10 provided a mild but significant significant mild improvement in symptoms and significantly improved performance in visual function.
A larger 16 month trial explored the use of Co q10 (300, 600 or 1200 mg/day) or placebo in 80 patients with early stage Parkinson's disease. The results suggested that CoQ10, especially at the 1200 mg/day dose, might have slowed disease progression.
Diabetes:
In a 12-week randomized controlled trial, 74 people with type 2 diabetes were randomized to receive either 100 mg Co q10 twice daily, 200 mg/day fenofibrate (a lipid regulating drug), both or neither for 12 weeks. Co q10 supplementation significantly improved blood pressure and glycemic control. However, two studies found that Co q10 supplementation failed to find any effect on glycemic control.
Gum disease:
A small study looked at the topical application of Co q10 to the periodontal pocket. Ten male periodontitis patients with 30 periodontal pockets were selected. During the first 3 weeks, the patients applied topical Co q10. There was significant improvement in symptoms.
A typical Co q10 dosage is 30 to 90 mg, taken in divided doses.
Co q10 is fat-soluble, so it is better absorbed when taken with a meal that contains oil or fat.
The clinical effect is not immediate and may take up to eight weeks.
Consult your doctor before trying Co q10, especially if you have heart disease, kidney failure, or cancer.
Co q10 is used in combination with standard treatment, not to replace it.
Co 10 may lower blood sugar levels, so people with diabetes should not use Co q10 unless under a doctor's supervision.
The safety of Co q10 in pregnant or nursing women or children has not been established.
Drug Interactions:
Diabetes Medication: e.g. Insulin, metformin(Glucophage®)glyburide (Diabeta®, Glynase™, Micronase®) may interact with Co q10, because Co q10 has possible blood sugar-lowering effects.
ACE Inhibitors: e.g. captopril (Capoten®), fosinopril (Monopril®), enalapril (Vasotec®), fosinopril (Monopril®) are medications used to lower blood pressure. Co q10 has been found to lower blood pressure, so it may interact and increase the effects of these drugs.
Beta Blockers: e.g. atenolol (Tenormin®), metoprolol (Lopressor®, Toprol XL™), propranolol (Inderal®)
Beta-blockers are medications that can lower blood pressure. Co q10 has been found to lower blood pressure, so it may interact and increase the effects of these drugs.
Calcium Channel Blockers: e.g. nifedipine (Adalat®, Procardia®), verapamil (Calan®, Isoptin®)
Calcium channel blockers are medications that can lower blood pressure. Co q10 has been found to lower blood pressure, so it may interact and increase the effects of these drugs.
Diuretics: e.g. hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDIURIL®, Esidrix®, Oretic®), furosemide (Lasix®)
Diuretics can lower blood pressure. Co q10 has been found to lower blood pressure, so it may interact and increase the effects of these drugs.
HMG Co-A Reductase Inhibitors / Statin Drugs: e.g. atorvastatin (Lipitor®), lovastatin (Mevacor®), pravastatin (Pravachol®)
Statin cholesterol-lowering drugs have been found to lower the body's Co q10 levels.
Anticoagulants: e.g. Warfarin (Coumadin®)
Co q10 has a similar chemical structure to vitamin K, a vitamin that increases the ability of blood to clot. Co q10 may interact with anti-clotting medications such as warfarin or heparin and decrease their effectiveness.
Dopamine-Enhancing Drugs: e.g. carbidopa-levidopa (Atamet®, Parcopa™, Sinemet®)
Co q10 may increase the effects of dopamine, so it may interact with medications that increase dopamine. These drugs are often used to treat depression and Parkinson's disease.
Statins have been found to decrease Co q10 production as a side effect of their action.
A Columbia University study in New York found that 30 days of statin therapy (80 mg/day) decreased Co q10 levels by half.
A Columbia University study in New York found that 30 days of statin therapy (80 mg/day) decreased Co q10 levels by half.
Another study by researchers at Kanazawa University in Japan found that smaller doses of statin drugs can reduce Co q10. After 8 weeks of 10 mg a day statin therapy, Co q10 levels decreased by 40 percent.
Some researchers suggest that this side effect may counteract any benefits of taking statins.
However, research on the use of Co q10 supplements in people taking statins is still inconclusive, and it is not routinely recommended in combination with statin therapy.
What is Co q10?
Co q10 is a naturally-occuring compound found in every cell in the body. Co q10's alternate name, ubiquinone, comes from the word ubiquitous, which means "found everywhere."
Co q10 plays a key role in producing energy in the mitochondria, the part of a cell responsible for the production of energy in the form of ATP.
Double-blind research suggests that Co q10 may reduce symptoms related to heart failure, such as shortness of breath, difficulty sleeping, and swelling. Co q10 is thought to increase energy production in the heart muscle, increasing the strength of the pumping action. However, recent human studies have not supported this.
641 people with congestive heart failure were randomized to receive either Co q10 (2 mg per kg body weight) or placebo plus standard treatment. People who took the Co q10 had a significant reduction in symptom severity and fewer hospitalizations.
32 patients with end-stage heart failure awaiting heart transplantation were randomized to receive either 60 mg of Co q10 or placebo for 3 months. Patients who took the Co q10 experienced a significant improvement in functional status, clinical symptoms, and quality of life, however there were no changes in echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) or in objective markers.
Another study randomized 55 patients with congestive heart failure to receive either 200 mg/day Co q10 or placebo in addition to standard treatment. Although serum levels of Co q10 increased in patients receiving Co q10, Co q10 didn't affect ejection fraction, peak oxygen consumption, or exercise duration.
A longer-term study investigated the use of 100 mg Co q10 or placebo in addition to standard treatment in 79 patients with stable chronic congestive heart failure. The results indicated that Co q10 only slightly improved maximal exercise capacity and quality of life compared with placebo.
Cardiomyopathy:
Several small trials have found Co q10 may be helpful for certain types of cardiomyopathy.
Parkinson's disease:
Lower levels of Co q10 have also been observed in people with Parkinson's disease. Preliminary research has found that increasing Co q10 may increase levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is thought to be lowered in people with Parkinson's disease.
A small, randomized controlled trial examined the use of 360 mg Co q10 or placebo in 28 treated and stable Parkinson's disease patients. After 4 weeks, Co q10 provided a mild but significant significant mild improvement in symptoms and significantly improved performance in visual function.
A larger 16 month trial explored the use of Co q10 (300, 600 or 1200 mg/day) or placebo in 80 patients with early stage Parkinson's disease. The results suggested that CoQ10, especially at the 1200 mg/day dose, might have slowed disease progression.
Diabetes:
In a 12-week randomized controlled trial, 74 people with type 2 diabetes were randomized to receive either 100 mg Co q10 twice daily, 200 mg/day fenofibrate (a lipid regulating drug), both or neither for 12 weeks. Co q10 supplementation significantly improved blood pressure and glycemic control. However, two studies found that Co q10 supplementation failed to find any effect on glycemic control.
Gum disease:
A small study looked at the topical application of Co q10 to the periodontal pocket. Ten male periodontitis patients with 30 periodontal pockets were selected. During the first 3 weeks, the patients applied topical Co q10. There was significant improvement in symptoms.
A typical Co q10 dosage is 30 to 90 mg, taken in divided doses.
Co q10 is fat-soluble, so it is better absorbed when taken with a meal that contains oil or fat.
The clinical effect is not immediate and may take up to eight weeks.
Consult your doctor before trying Co q10, especially if you have heart disease, kidney failure, or cancer.
Co q10 is used in combination with standard treatment, not to replace it.
Co 10 may lower blood sugar levels, so people with diabetes should not use Co q10 unless under a doctor's supervision.
The safety of Co q10 in pregnant or nursing women or children has not been established.
Drug Interactions:
Diabetes Medication: e.g. Insulin, metformin(Glucophage®)glyburide (Diabeta®, Glynase™, Micronase®) may interact with Co q10, because Co q10 has possible blood sugar-lowering effects.
ACE Inhibitors: e.g. captopril (Capoten®), fosinopril (Monopril®), enalapril (Vasotec®), fosinopril (Monopril®) are medications used to lower blood pressure. Co q10 has been found to lower blood pressure, so it may interact and increase the effects of these drugs.
Beta Blockers: e.g. atenolol (Tenormin®), metoprolol (Lopressor®, Toprol XL™), propranolol (Inderal®)
Beta-blockers are medications that can lower blood pressure. Co q10 has been found to lower blood pressure, so it may interact and increase the effects of these drugs.
Calcium Channel Blockers: e.g. nifedipine (Adalat®, Procardia®), verapamil (Calan®, Isoptin®)
Calcium channel blockers are medications that can lower blood pressure. Co q10 has been found to lower blood pressure, so it may interact and increase the effects of these drugs.
Diuretics: e.g. hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDIURIL®, Esidrix®, Oretic®), furosemide (Lasix®)
Diuretics can lower blood pressure. Co q10 has been found to lower blood pressure, so it may interact and increase the effects of these drugs.
HMG Co-A Reductase Inhibitors / Statin Drugs: e.g. atorvastatin (Lipitor®), lovastatin (Mevacor®), pravastatin (Pravachol®)
Statin cholesterol-lowering drugs have been found to lower the body's Co q10 levels.
Anticoagulants: e.g. Warfarin (Coumadin®)
Co q10 has a similar chemical structure to vitamin K, a vitamin that increases the ability of blood to clot. Co q10 may interact with anti-clotting medications such as warfarin or heparin and decrease their effectiveness.
Dopamine-Enhancing Drugs: e.g. carbidopa-levidopa (Atamet®, Parcopa™, Sinemet®)
Co q10 may increase the effects of dopamine, so it may interact with medications that increase dopamine. These drugs are often used to treat depression and Parkinson's disease.
posted by Jenny | 12:21 PM
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