Statins, Coenzyme Q10, and Energy Production in the Cell Cholesterol and Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) share the same chemical pathway. Details of the importance of CoQ10 are given below. Cholesterol and Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) share the same chemical pathway in the cell up to a compound called mevalonate. The last reaction to form mevalonate is inhibited by statins and stimulated by insulin. Every carbon atom in cholesterol comes from excess carbohydrate breakdown stimulated by insulin. There is no relationship with fat. This explains the details of the next three paragraphs. Mevalonate is formed from excess carbohydrates, particularly fructose. These carbohydrates are broken down to a substance called acetyl CoA. Fructose, which comes from sucrose or table sugar, and high fructose corn syrup is broken down more rapidly to acetyl CoA than glucose, the other part of sugar. The 2 carbons in the acetyl portion of acetyl CoA from sugar and starches provide all the carbons in mevalonate (6 carbons). Body cells require 3 acetyl CoA compounds to complete these reactions to make mevalonate. These reactions take several steps. Mevalonate molecules go through a reaction to reduce the 6 carbons to 5. The resulting 5 carbon compounds are put together to form cholesterol, and several other important compounds. Statins prevent formation of mevalonate, and therefore statins prevent, or inhibit, the synthesis of cholesterol. Statins also inhibit the synthesis of CoQ10 from mevalonate. Why is this important? In the mitochondria, the main energy producer of the cell, CoQ10 is part of the electron transport scheme which makes ATP, the energy currency of cells. When energy is needed to make the many molecules of cells and tissues, ATP provides the vast majority of the energy for those reactions. The heart stores lots of CoQ10 because the heart uses more energy than perhaps any other organ in the body. If the body doesnt have enough CoQ10 because its synthesis is inhibited by statins or other means, the heart suffers. This leads to congestive heart failure and an enlarged heart. Statins have been shown to cause muscle weakness. Statin ads do admit muscle weakness is a serious side effect. But it is not necessarily a minor side effect as they claim. Some statins have been taken off the market because muscle weakness resulted in death. The heart is a muscle, and those who suffer this problem are in danger of dying. In the USA, deaths from congestive heart failure doubled from 1989 to 1997. Widespread use of statins began in 1987. Some physicians believe the epidemic of heart failure today is due to widespread use of statins. Cholesterol and CoQ10 are important in making cell membranes impermeable. An impermeable membrane makes it possible for different reactions to go on inside and outside the cell. If the cell membrane becomes leaky because cholesterol and CoQ10 are in short supply because of statin use, or other means, the cell cannot function effectively. CoQ10 also functions as an important antioxidant which the body can rejuvenate. Antioxidants that we eat with foods cannot be rejuvenated.
To review the publications used to help produce these pages about statins, cholesterol and coQ10 click here. A new window will open.
To discover the relationship between fats, carbohydrates, and cholesterol click here. A new window will open.
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