Do statins deplete the body’s CoQ10?

Published 5:10 am Tuesday, June 12, 2018

By Staff Reports

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am writing to inquire about the effects of statins on the body. My husband is a 66-year-old diabetic taking metformin and atorvastatin. A highly respected chemist friend told us that the statin drugs completely deplete the body of CoQ10, and recommended blood testing of the lipid particle size before beginning any statins. Is there any evidence that shows that this depletion is factual? If so, would taking a CoQ10 supplement help? — Anon.

ANSWER: CoQ10, also called ubiquinone, is a vitaminlike compound that is used in the metabolism of some, but not all, statin drugs. The decrease in body levels may increase the likelihood of muscle symptoms in people taking statins, especially simvastatin and atorvastatin.

However, in practice, it isn’t clear that CoQ10 supplementation works to either prevent or treat muscle side effects. I don’t recommend it in people who have no trouble taking statins.

There is fair evidence that smaller LDL particles are worse in terms of causing damage to blood vessels. If someone had an unusual proportion of small LDL, it would make sense to treat him or her at lower levels of cholesterol than would otherwise be recommended, or possibly to use a more-intensive treatment. However, in practice, the number of people whose recommendations would change by knowing their particle size is relatively few.