A few years ago, the New England Journal of Medicine reported that at least 250,000 heart attacks last year could have been prevented by controlling inflammation. These 250,000 heart attacks represent 20% of the total 1,250,000 heart attacks. Half of the total heart attacks occurred in people with normal cholesterol levels.
The risk of heart attack for people with high levels of cholesterol is the same for those people with normal levels of cholesterol. Maybe cholesterol is not the best indicator or marker of your heart health? The New England Journal of Medicine stated that controlling inflammation might be a better way to prevent cardiovascular events.
Statin drugs sold under a variety of names including Lipitor (atorvastatin), Zocor (simvastatin), Mevacor (lovastatin) and Pravachol (pravastatin) and are prescribed to lower cholesterol and supposedly to reduce the risk of heart disease.
Statin drugs block your body’s production of cholesterol by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase. By inhibiting this enzyme, your body’s production of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is also blocked.
CoQ10 is the key to energy production in every cell in your body. Your heart uses more energy than any other organ, and has a higher concentration of CoQ10. Statin drugs block this enzyme. If you are taking statin drugs and have a concern, please consult your doctor about adding a CoQ10 supplement.
Interestingly enough, there are two United State Patents (4,933,165 and 4,929,437) filed in 1990 by one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world that added CoQ10 to their statin drug. To my knowledge, this statin drug with a CoQ10 supplement has never been released to the public.
CoQ10 supplements are not affected by statin drugs. The best reference book that I’ve found on CoQ10 was written by Dr. Emile Bliznakov wrote “The Miracle Nutrient Coenzyme Q10” in 1998. CoQ10 supplements do not prevent any of the current side effects caused by statin drugs, although some researchers believe that muscle and joint pain might be reduced with CoQ10 supplementation. If you have muscle and joint pain from taking statin drugs, check with your doctor before adding CoQ10 supplements to your diet.
There are some things you can do to reduce cholesterol without taking statin drugs. Avoid trans-fats, refined sugars, reduced-fat milks and powdered milk products. Eat plenty of saturated fats and foods high in copper. Use coconut oil and coconut products. I personally mix coconut oil and olive oil (half and half) for frying foods.
Statin drugs block your body’s production of cholesterol and CoQ10. Additionally, statin drugs block dolichols which target proteins based on your DNA’s instruction. Blocking dolichols can lead to your cells responding chaotically because of dolichol deficiency. The immediate precursor of cholesterol is squalene. Researchers have found that squalene inhibits blood vessels formation in tumors.
CoQ10 supplements can be found with the name ubiquinone or ubiquinol. Ubiquinone is the primary commercially available CoQ10 supplement being sold in stores and over the Internet. If the label of the CoQ10 bottle doesn’t specifically state ubiquinone or ubiquinol, it is most likely ubiquinone. Ubiquinone is the oxidized form of CoQ10. You body will convert ubiquinone to ubiquinol.
Ubiquinol is difficult to synthesize. A method was found about a dozen years ago that makes it commercially profitable to sell today – and at a higher price than ubiquinone. Ubiquinol is the reduced form of CoQ10– it is not oxidized. As such, ubiquinol is the antioxidant form of CoQ10 which neutralizes free radical damage.
Not all of the ubiquinone you ingest is converted to ubiquinol. A higher percentage of ubiquinone is converted to ubiquinol in healthy young people. As you age, your body makes less CoQ10 and converts less ubiquinone to ubiquinol. Therefore, if you are older and have a choice, take ubiquinol. I have read some articles that state ubiquinol is six to eight times more effective compared to ubiquinone in those people over 50 years of age.
I always read every label and accompanying document for any prescription, non-prescription and food supplement that I take. I want to know it will do for me. Last year my dermatologist gave me a prescription for a fungal infection on both my large toes. I bought the medicine and read all the paperwork and decided that I didn’t want to take any chances with the side effects. I chose a natural alternative solution that worked fine and eliminated the problem. Check all labels before using – even if your doctor prescribed it for you. You are responsible for your health!
I agree that we alone are responsible for our health. I will choose a natural alternative as opposed to a chemical medication wherever possible.
I am not a fan of statin drugs myself. I prefer natural methods of just about anything! My wife takes a statin and CoQ10. Your analysis of the varieties of CoQ10 is quite enlightening.
I am interested in your natural anti-fungal solution, though! I’m using a product that severely dries out the skin on my foot.
David: Any contraindication of using coconut oil to counter the severe dryness? I use coconut oil for many, many things – internal and external. Might want to chat with your doctor about using it to counter the side effect you are experiencing.