Experiencing bothersome side effects with your statin medications and don’t know how to manage them? Don’t worry, Coenzyme Q10 may be the right supplement for you!

CoQ10: The heart’s sidekick in good health 

CoQ10 is a potent antioxidant that is naturally produced and stored in the human body—your cells use it in order to support growth and function as well as to perform other biological processes. Because of this, CoQ10 plays a valuable role in defending your cells and vital organs from deterioration in the long run. 

One of those organs CoQ10 protects is the heart, a muscle that is crucial to your survival. Day and night, it pumps oxygen-rich blood throughout all parts of your body. With great duty comes high demands though, as the heart needs its own steady supply of blood and nutrients in order to function well. 

However, some individuals have health conditions such as high blood pressure or hypertension that affect heart health. For instance, hypertensive patients are prescribed statin medications to lower their cholesterol levels and their risk of getting a heart attack or a stroke. Although statins are effective, users report experiencing muscle pain and discomfort, among other complaints. 

CoQ10 supplementation is claimed to help statin users manage side effects from the medication as well as keep their heart healthy—read on to find out how! 

Statin users may experience a form of relief from statin-induced muscle discomfort with CoQ10 

Based on existing research, statin medications are said to reduce levels of the naturally-occurring CoQ10 in the body, specifically in muscle tissue. 

A 2018 statistical analysis of 12 randomized trials published in the Journal of the American Heart Association revealed that compared to placebo intake, CoQ10 supplementation helped improve four statin-induced adverse effects on the muscles, such as the following: 

• Muscle pain
• Muscle cramp
• Muscle weakness
• Muscle fatigue 

With this, the review suggests that CoQ10 supplementation intake may be considered as an additional treatment for the management of muscle-related symptoms from statin medications. 

CoQ10 may be partnered with statins for heart disease management 

Depleted CoQ10 levels in the human body are linked to worsening heart failure (HF) symptoms, according to a 2016 review from the Circulation: Heart Failure journal. The scope of the review consisted of clinical studies on CoQ10’s supplementation’s effects on HF patients’ health. 

Based on the review’s discussion, based on the antioxidant CoQ10’s anti-inflammatory properties, the nutrient reduced HF patients’ risk of hospitalization. HF patients also reported fewer complications when they consumed CoQ10 supplements compared to the placebo group.  

There are also claims that link CoQ10 supplementation with improvements in blood vessel function and health for patients with endothelial dysfunction, a type of coronary artery disease that can promote the onset of atherosclerosis (plaque buildup inside the arteries). 

Clinical implications 

While these and other existing studies do not guarantee that combining CoQ10 supplements with statins will lead to improvements or the treatment of heart conditions, they point to the nutrient’s potential in helping individuals manage heart disease symptoms as well as statin-induced adverse effects. 

In addition, bear in mind that taking supplements alone will not guarantee optimal cardiovascular health despite taking statin medications—heart conditions still require medical intervention. Nonetheless, CoQ10 may still be consumed to supplement your efforts in staying healthy.  

Get the most out of CoQ10’s potential benefits by making other healthy lifestyle choices such as maintaining a well-balanced diet, constant hydration, regular exercise, and adequate sleep—all of which contribute to your holistic health. 

Recommended dosage 

The typical recommended intake for patients with cardiovascular conditions ranges from 30 milligrams to 300 milligrams daily, but the dosage may vary depending on your preferences or the advice of your healthcare provider. 

Due to the nature of your condition and the medications you are taking, it is highly advised to consult with a medical professional prior to taking CoQ10 supplements. Seek medical attention if you experience adverse effects from CoQ10 supplementation.

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