TL;DR

  • Statins lower cholesterol—but also reduce CoQ10, needed for energy and muscle health.

  • Low CoQ10 can cause muscle pain, fatigue, and weakness.

  • Studies show CoQ10 supplements help relieve these symptoms.

  • Statins may also affect mood through changes in cholesterol and serotonin.

Read more about how statins affect the energy of the cell.

Statins Affect CoQ10 Production & Cellular Energy

Statins lower cholesterol by blocking an enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase. This enzyme is needed to make mevalonate, a compound the body uses to produce cholesterol—and also coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). Because statins block this step, they reduce both cholesterol and CoQ10 levels in the body.

Because they interfere with CoQ10 production, statins destroy mitochondria (the part of the cell responsible for producing energy) [1-5]. Low CoQ10 can affect energy production in muscles and the heart. Many people taking statins report muscle pain, fatigue, and exercise intolerance. Rarely, statins can cause serious muscle damage (rhabdomyolysis) and even liver problems.

Research in Med Sci Monit. 2014 Nov 6;20:2183–2188. showed that CoQ10 supplements reduced muscle pain in people taking statins. In that study, 75% of those taking 100 mg/day CoQ10 felt pain relief. In another study (Am J Cardiol. 2007 May 15;99(10):1409-12.), 90% of the subjects experienced pain relief with CoQ10. The placebo group (receiving vitamin E), did not.

A study in Archives of Neurology (June 2000) confirmed that statins lower blood CoQ10 levels by nearly 50%. The heart is rich in CoQ10, and deficiency is linked with heart failure. The Lancet (1998;352(Suppl. 1):39–41) noted a sharp rise in heart failure rates over the previous decades, raising questions about the long-term effects of statin use.

Statins may also influence mood and behavior. Research in Psychosomatic Medicine (1994;56:479–484) found that low cholesterol levels were linked with depression and aggression, possibly due to effects on serotonin.

With over 13 million people taking statins, adding CoQ10 supplementation is a simple step that may help maintain energy, protect muscles, and support overall health. Read more.

Disclaimer: For educational purposes only.

  1. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2021 Jan 29;12(2):237–251. Effects of statins on mitochondrial pathways
  2. Journal of Applied Physiology (August 1, 2012 113:479-486)
  3. ANTIOXIDANTS & REDOX SIGNALING Volume 24, Number 2, 2016 Statins Trigger Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species-Induced Apoptosis in Glycolytic Skeletal Muscle]
  4. Cell Metab. 2015 Sep 1;22(3):399-407 Statin-Induced Myopathy Is Associated with Mitochondrial Complex III Inhibition
  5. JCI Insight. 2024 Feb 22;9(4):e174125. High-dose atorvastatin therapy progressively decreases skeletal muscle mitochondrial respiratory capacity in humans