Daša Skripová, Daniel Pella
Statins are currently the most effective therapy in primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases. By their mechanism of action, by inhibiting 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutharyl coenzyme A reductase, statins inhibit mevalonate metabolic pathway, so that besides cholesterol reduction, statins inhibit synthesis of the vital substances including CoQ10 (CoQ10, ubiquinone). CoQ10 plays a key role in the process of oxidative phosphorylation and its depletion may lead to a deterioration of energy metabolism of muscle cells and ultimately to the development of myopathy. Statin induced myopathy (statin-associated myopathy) is the most common side effect of statin therapy and often leads to statin dose reduction, or therapy cessation. Present evidence does not support CoQ1O supplementation therapy in statin-associated myopathy. The results of a few intervention studies and a few case reports have been contradictory.