How Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs Affect CoQ10 Levels

Nowadays, there are several medications on the market which can help lower certain types of cholesterol. These can be very helpful, but you also need to be aware of some of the dangerous side effects associated with them… like the depletion of your body’s CoEnzyme Q10 (or CoQ10 for short).

What is CoQ10?

So what is CoQ10? Well, CoEnzyme Q10 is an important enzyme to the human body. It’s a naturally occurring substance found in every person on the planet; it’s in all of your mitochondria cells. This enzyme is needed for the biological process known as aerobic cellular respiration, which generates an estimated 95% of the body’s energy in the form of ATP (Adenosine triphosphate).

Why is CoQ10 important?

Considering that it’s an enzyme used in around 95% of your body’s cellular energy production, it’s obvious why CoQ10 is so important to the human body. The organs which use the most energy also need the most CoQ10. Therefore, it’s organs like the heart, kidneys, liver, brain, lungs, and other vital parts of our body that need it the most. If your body suddenly stopped producing this substance, it would not be possible to survive.

When is a CoQ10 supplement needed?

As mentioned, since cholesterol-lowering medications like Lipitor, Crestor, and Zocor allegedly deplete your body’s natural CoQ10 levels, it might be a good idea to consider taking a supplement for it. However, this is something you will need to discuss with the prescribing physician, as only he or she can advise you to do so.

Aside from that, millions are people are choosing to take CoEnzyme Q10 as a dietary supplement. It can be found in the vitamin aisle at any store; there’s capsules and also liquid CoQ10 available. Since our natural production starts to go down after we reach the age of twenty-one, many people feel it would be beneficial to supplement that decreased production.