Numerous medical studies have shown that statin drugs like Lipitor, Crestor, and Zocor can markedly reduce production of Co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in the body. Why should that concern you? When CoQ10 gets depleted, it causes LDL (“bad”) cholesterol to become oxidized. This causes LDL to become VERY bad! Oxidized LDL can literally drill holes in the lining of your arteries causing major inflammation. This inflammation in turn can lead to a heart attack and stroke. This is why taking statin drugs is no guarantee that you will not die of cardiovascular disease.
CoQ10 deficiency is not only associated with heart attack and stroke, but also with cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, high-blood pressure, gum disease and tooth loss, liver disease, dementia, cataracts, cancer, and much more. Not only does CoQ10 deficiency increase your risk of a variety of diseases, it is also predictive of early death (even in the the absence of obvious disease).
Comments: I am at a total loss why any doctor would prescribe a statin medication without adding CoQ10! If you are on a statin, I urge you to insist that your doctor check your CoQ10 level. The best way to do this is with a Cardio ION test from Genova Diagnostics. It includes a direct test for CoQ10 as well as a more sensitive test called hydroxymethylglutarate.
