Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation Decreases Statin-Related Mild-to-Moderate Muscle Symptoms: A Randomized Clinical Study

Study answer

What this study found

Coenzyme Q10 supplementation significantly reduced statin-related muscle pain and interference with daily activities after 30 days. Pain Severity Score decreased from 3.9±0.4 to 2.9±0.4 (P<0.001); Pain Interference Score decreased from 4.0±0.4 to 2.6±0.4 (P<0.001); placebo showed no significant change. Relative reductions vs placebo: PSS −33.1% and PIS −40.3% (both P<0.05). 75% of patients reported symptom improvement. No significant changes in liver or muscle enzymes or cholesterol levels. Authors conclude that 50 mg twice daily CoQ10 for 30 days reduces statin-associated mild-to-moderate…

Study & population

Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial; 50 statin-treated adults (25 per group) aged 40-65 with mild-to-moderate statin-related muscle symptoms; both sexes; statin therapy continued; assessments at Day 0 and Day 30 using Brief Pain Inventory (PSS and PIS).

Intervention

Coenzyme Q10 50 mg per dose, taken twice daily (total 100 mg/day) for 30 days; oral tablets.

Key limitation

Small, single-center study (n=50) with short duration (30 days); strict inclusion criteria; reliance on subjective pain measures; no mechanistic data or CoQ10 tissue/plasma level assessment; results may not generalize to all statin-associated muscle symptoms.

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Original abstract