CoQ10 and Statins: What the Evidence Says

Statins lower the amount of CoQ10 in your blood, which is why many people on statins ask whether they should take a CoQ10 supplement. The honest answer is that the research is mixed, and CoQ10 has not been proven to prevent or treat statin side effects. There is no known harmful interaction between the two, but CoQ10 is not a substitute for medical advice. This guide explains why statins affect CoQ10, what the main studies found, and what to discuss with your GP or pharmacist before taking a CoQ10 supplement alongside a statin.

Why do statins lower CoQ10?

Statins lower cholesterol by blocking an enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase in the liver. That enzyme is an early step in the mevalonate pathway, which your body uses to make cholesterol. The same pathway is also used to make CoQ10 (coenzyme Q10), a compound involved in normal cellular energy production. So when a statin slows the pathway down, blood levels of CoQ10 fall too.

This is well established. What is less clear is whether the fall in CoQ10 causes any of the side effects people get on statins, and whether a CoQ10 supplement changes anything. Taking a statin does not automatically mean you need CoQ10.

Does CoQ10 help with statin muscle pain?

Muscle aches, weakness and cramps are among the side effects people most often report on statins. The idea that low CoQ10 might contribute to these symptoms led to a number of trials. Their results disagree.

• A 2015 meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials, published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, found that CoQ10 did not significantly improve statin-associated muscle symptoms (Banach et al., 2015).
• A 2018 updated meta-analysis in the Journal of the American Heart Association pooled more trials and reported that CoQ10 reduced muscle pain, weakness, cramps and tiredness scores, although it did not change a blood marker of muscle damage (Qu et al., 2018).
• The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) sums up the research by saying that, although results of individual studies have varied, the overall evidence does not support the idea that CoQ10 can reduce muscle pain caused by statins.

So the fair summary is that the question is not settled. Some people on statins take CoQ10 and feel it helps, and some trials support that, but it has not been proven, and it is not a treatment for statin side effects.

CoQ10 and statins: the evidence at a glance

Can you take CoQ10 with statins?

In most cases, yes. No harmful interaction between CoQ10 and statins is known, and many trials have given the two together. But "no known interaction" is not the same as "right for you", so speak to your GP or pharmacist before starting, particularly if you:

• take warfarin, because CoQ10 may make it less effective
• have diabetes and take insulin, because CoQ10 may affect blood sugar
• take several medicines for your heart or blood pressure
• have liver or kidney disease

Our CoQ10 side effects guide covers these interactions in more detail.

How to take CoQ10 alongside a statin

If you and your GP or pharmacist decide to try it:

• Follow the label. Our CoQ10 300mg capsules contain ubiquinone, and the serving is 2 capsules a day (600mg). Trials in people on statins have mostly used lower amounts than this, so ask whether a lower amount suits you.
• Take it with food. CoQ10 is fat-soluble, so a meal that contains some fat is the usual advice.
• Timing with your statin does not matter. There is no known reason to space them apart. Many people take CoQ10 with breakfast and their statin in the evening.
• Give it time, and keep a note. Trials have generally lasted from a few weeks to a few months. Writing down how your muscles feel each week makes it easier to judge, and to report to your GP.

Choosing between forms? Our guide to CoQ10 vs ubiquinol explains the difference between ubiquinone and ubiquinol, both of which have been used in statin studies.

Muscle pain on a statin: what to do

Most people take statins with no side effects, and muscle aches on a statin can have other causes. Do not try to manage statin muscle pain on your own with a supplement.

• Tell your GP or pharmacist about any muscle pain, tenderness or weakness. They may check your blood, adjust the dose or try a different statin.
• Get urgent medical help if you have unexplained severe muscle pain or weakness, especially with a high temperature, feeling very unwell or dark urine. This is rare but needs checking straight away. See the NHS statins page for full guidance.
• Keep taking your statin until you have spoken to your GP, unless you have been told otherwise.

Questions to ask your GP or pharmacist

• Is CoQ10 safe with all the medicines I take, including warfarin or diabetes medicines?
• Could my muscle symptoms be caused by something other than my statin?
• Would changing my statin or dose be a better first step?
• If I try CoQ10, what amount is right for me, and how long should I try it before we review?

The bottom line on CoQ10 and statins

Statins do lower your body's CoQ10 levels. Whether a CoQ10 supplement helps with statin side effects is still uncertain, with trials pointing in different directions. No harmful interaction is known, so many people can take both, but speak to your GP or pharmacist first, report any muscle pain to them, and never change your statin to take a supplement. To learn what CoQ10 is and what the wider research shows, read our guide to what CoQ10 is good for.

CoQ10 300mg Capsules — NutritionGo

Ubiquinone · Vegan HPMC capsules · Made in the UK

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References

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