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High cholesterol is well known risk factor for developing cardiovascular diseases such as arthrosclerosis, heart attack or stroke. Frequently prescribed medications used to lower cholesterol are the HMG Co-A reductase inhibitors, more commonly called statins. Statins are most effective at lowering LDL (bad cholesterol), but have less effect on HDL (good cholesterol) and triglycerides. These medications work by inhibiting one of the early steps of cholesterol production. Some examples of statins are simvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, Lipitor, and Crestor.
Statin therapy is generally well tolerated, but an unfortunate side effect that may occur is muscle cramping or muscle pain. Although these side effects are rare, the risk of developing them increases in people receiving higher doses of statins, people with decreased kidney function, and with increasing age.
Coenzyme Q10 is a vitamin-like substance found in the body that assists with energy production. While statins are good at lowering LDL, they have an untoward effect of decreasing the production of coenzyme Q10. It is estimated that statins can reduce coenzyme Q10 by around 40%. One theory is that the reduction in these levels is a
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