Currently45 million Americans and millions more across the globe are currently taking cholesterol lowering drugs. Most don't know about the dangerous and preventable side effects these medications, also known as statin drugs, are associated with, in particular, damaging heart muscle function, the increased risk of developing diabetes, cognitive decline, and memory loss. These drugs also cause muscle damage, weakness and a breakdown of muscle fibers resulting in the release of muscle fiber contents into the bloodstream.
These drugs are very toxic because they halt the cells from producing a key vitamin, CoQ10, which is the primary cause of the side effects. Relatively low doses of statin drugs such as Lipitor and Zocor effectively reduce plasma cholesterol levels. These drugs function by stopping an enzyme that is key to cholesterol production. A part of the cholesterol pathway in animal cells leads to the formation of CoQ10. Also, high levels of statin drugs can reduce CoQ10 in the liver and lowers CoQ10 at doses prescribed by physicians.
Regretfully, the vast majority of physicians don't know about the cause of these complications, and could recommend taking CoQ10 supplements to their patients when prescribing these drugs. Pharmaceutical company even has a patent on the drug and CoQ10 combination, since but never released it. In 1989, Merck& Co., makers of lovastatin was awarded patent #4,933,165.
The patent states that Coenzyme Q10 is a part of the respiratory chain and is found in all cells having mitochondria. It is thus an essential ingredient in the production of energy and is very important in muscle function.
Researchers, have measured the levels of Coenzyme Q10 in heart tissue biopsy samples taken from patients with varying stages of damage to the heart muscle. These researchers observed decreasing tissue levels of CoQ10 with increasing severity of the symptoms of cardiac disease. Unfortunately, the FDA doesn't warn consumers of this dangerous and reversible side effect.There are no official warnings in the U.S. regarding CoQ10.
Compared to the U.S., Canadian law requires labeling and clearly warns of CoQ10 depletion and even notes that this nutrient deficiency "could lead to impaired cardiac function in patients with borderline congestive heart failure."
These drugs are very toxic because they halt the cells from producing a key vitamin, CoQ10, which is the primary cause of the side effects. Relatively low doses of statin drugs such as Lipitor and Zocor effectively reduce plasma cholesterol levels. These drugs function by stopping an enzyme that is key to cholesterol production. A part of the cholesterol pathway in animal cells leads to the formation of CoQ10. Also, high levels of statin drugs can reduce CoQ10 in the liver and lowers CoQ10 at doses prescribed by physicians.
Regretfully, the vast majority of physicians don't know about the cause of these complications, and could recommend taking CoQ10 supplements to their patients when prescribing these drugs. Pharmaceutical company even has a patent on the drug and CoQ10 combination, since but never released it. In 1989, Merck& Co., makers of lovastatin was awarded patent #4,933,165.
The patent states that Coenzyme Q10 is a part of the respiratory chain and is found in all cells having mitochondria. It is thus an essential ingredient in the production of energy and is very important in muscle function.
Researchers, have measured the levels of Coenzyme Q10 in heart tissue biopsy samples taken from patients with varying stages of damage to the heart muscle. These researchers observed decreasing tissue levels of CoQ10 with increasing severity of the symptoms of cardiac disease. Unfortunately, the FDA doesn't warn consumers of this dangerous and reversible side effect.There are no official warnings in the U.S. regarding CoQ10.
Compared to the U.S., Canadian law requires labeling and clearly warns of CoQ10 depletion and even notes that this nutrient deficiency "could lead to impaired cardiac function in patients with borderline congestive heart failure."
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Want to find out more about heart disease, then visit holistic medicine pioneer and author Elaine R. Ferguson, M.D.'s site on how to choose the best natural healing techniques for your needs.