CoQ10 reduces mild-to-moderate muscle pain caused by statin use, study shows
Highlights
- Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study
- Participants include 55 patients with statin-induced muscle pain
- CoQ10 significantly reduces muscle pain and interference with daily activities
- Effective dosage is 50 mg, twice daily, for 30 days
Summary
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study examined whether coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation could decrease statin-induced muscular pain in patients with mild-to-moderate muscle symptoms.
For this study, researchers recruited 55 men and women, age 40-65 years, who experienced muscle pain related to statin use. Important inclusion criteria were the use of a statin for more than 6 months and the presence of statin-associated muscular symptoms for at least 6 months. For all patients, before the inclusion to the study, all possible efforts to decrease symptoms and to identify the possible association with statin use were made. This included gradual decreases of statin dose, de-challenge and re-challenge of statin treatment, and switch to another statin. Symptoms repeated after re-challenge or switching. This confirmed the association between symptoms and statin treatment.
The distribution of types of statin among the patients was as follows: rosuvastatin 10-20 mg/day (22 patients); atorvastatin 40 mg/day (10 patients) and 10-20 mg/day (10 patients); simvastatin 10-20 mg/day (4 patients); fluvastatin 80 mg/day (3 patients); and lovastatin 20 mg daily (1 patient).
The participants were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups for 30 days: CoQ10 (n=25) (50 mg, twice daily) or a placebo (n=25). Pain severity and pain interference with daily activities was assessed using the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) questionnaire at baseline and after 30 days of supplementation. The BPI is a clinically validated assessment that consists of a Pain Severity Score (PSS) and a Pain Interference Score (PIS). Blood tests were performed to assess changes in blood lipid profile, and muscle and liver functions.
Results indicate CoQ10 significantly (P<.001) decreased the intensity of muscle pain, as measured by the reduction in PSS from 3.9 to 2.9, on average. CoQ10 also significantly (P<.001) decreased pain interference, as measured by the reduction in PIS from 4.0 to 2.6, on average. No changes in PSS and PIS were found in the placebo group. CoQ10 supplementation decreased statin-related muscle symptoms in 75% of patients. The relative values of PSS and PIS significantly (P<.05) decreased (−33% and −40%, respectively) with CoQ10 supplementation compared to placebo. No differences from baseline in liver and muscle function tests or blood lipid panel were found.
These findings indicate that adding CoQ10 supplementation (50 mg, twice daily, for 30 days) to regular statin treatment may offer clinical value for patients taking a statin who also experience mild-to-moderate statin-induced muscle pain. Moreover, it may lead to lower interference with daily activities, higher compliance with statin treatment, and a better quality of life.
