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Biotech / Medical : Biotech Valuation -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Stephen O who wrote (15072)	1/3/2005 2:06:51 PM
From: Biomaven	Respond to of 52153

No, various muscle issues are a known and now fairly well understood problem - one of these are what caused Baychol to be withdrawn. There are reasonable arguments that CoQ10 supplements should be taken with statins. Hard to know without a proper trial, but it seems pretty clear that statins do reduce normal CoQ10 levels and likely that isn't a good thing. Arch Neurol. 2004 Jun;61(6):889-92. Related Articles, Links Click here to read Atorvastatin decreases the coenzyme Q10 level in the blood of patients at risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke. Rundek T, Naini A, Sacco R, Coates K, DiMauro S. Department of Neurology, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA. BACKGROUND: Statins (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors) are widely used for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and coronary heart disease and for the prevention of stroke. There have been various adverse effects, most commonly affecting muscle and ranging from myalgia to rhabdomyolysis. These adverse effects may be due to a coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)) deficiency because inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis also inhibits the synthesis of CoQ(10). OBJECTIVE: To measure CoQ(10) levels in blood from hypercholesterolemic subjects before and after exposure to atorvastatin calcium, 80 mg/d, for 14 and 30 days. DESIGN: Prospective blinded study of the effects of short-term exposure to atorvastatin on blood levels of CoQ(10). SETTING: Stroke center at an academic tertiary care hospital.Patients We examined a cohort of 34 subjects eligible for statin treatment according to National Cholesterol Education Program: Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. RESULTS: The mean +/- SD blood concentration of CoQ(10) was 1.26 +/- 0.47 micro g/mL at baseline, and decreased to 0.62 +/- 0.39 micro g/mL after 30 days of atorvastatin therapy (P<.001). A significant decrease was already detectable after 14 days of treatment (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Even brief exposure to atorvastatin causes a marked decrease in blood CoQ(10) concentration. Widespread inhibition of CoQ(10) synthesis could explain the most commonly reported adverse effects of statins, especially exercise intolerance, myalgia, and myoglobinuria. --------------------------------- Am J Cardiol. 2004 Nov 15;94(10):1306-10. Related Articles, Links Click here to read Effect of atorvastatin on left ventricular diastolic function and ability of coenzyme Q10 to reverse that dysfunction. Silver MA, Langsjoen PH, Szabo S, Patil H, Zelinger A. Heart Failure Institute, Department of Medicine, Advocate Christ Medical Center, University of Illinois/Christ Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program, Oak Lawn, Illinois 60453, USA. marc.silver@advocatehealth.com <marc.silver@advocatehealth.com> This study evaluated left ventricular diastolic function with Doppler echocardiography before and after statin therapy. Statin therapy worsened diastolic parameters in most patients; coenzyme Q(10) supplementation in patients with worsening diastolic function with statin therapy improved parameters of diastolic function.