Is there anything statins do not protect against?

[Guest guest]

Hi folks:

It is quite extraordinary the number of afflictions statins appear to

protect against. Heart disease (of course), various cancers and now

glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration, apparently - two of

the leading causes of blindness.

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/88/100088.htm

Rodney.

[Guest guest]

STATINS CURE HICCUPS, HANG-NAILS, AND BED WETTING!

Sorry Rodney, I made that up. More bad (real) news:

Atorvastatin Reduces Blood CoQ10 Levels

Laurie Barclay, MD

June 22, 2004 — Atorvastatin substantially reduces blood coenzyme

Q10

(CoQ10) levels, according to the results of a prospective blinded

study published in the June issue of the Archives of Neurology. The

investigators speculate that this may underlie some of the adverse

effects, and they suggest that supplements may be appropriate.

" 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, " write

Tatjana Rundek, MD, from Columbia University College of Physicians &

Surgeons in New York City, and colleagues. " There have been various

adverse effects, most commonly affecting muscle and ranging from

myalgia to rhabdomyolysis. These adverse effects may be due to a

[CoQ10] deficiency because inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis

also inhibits the synthesis of CoQ10. "

At the stroke center of an academic tertiary care hospital, the

investigators enrolled 34 subjects eligible for statin treatment

according to National Cholesterol Education Program: Adult Treatment

Panel III criteria.

At baseline, mean blood concentration of CoQ10 was 1.26 ± 0.47

µg/mL.

This decreased to 0.62 ± 0.39 µg/mL after 30 days of

atorvastatin

therapy (P < .001). A significant decrease was already detectable

after 14 days of treatment (P < .001).

The most common adverse effects were flatulence and constipation,

which were usually transient. There were no complaints of myalgia,

weakness, or other severe adverse effects. One subject experienced

weakness and tingling in the legs, which disappeared two days after

reducing the dose of atorvastatin calcium to 40 mg per day.

" Even brief exposure to atorvastatin causes a marked decrease in

blood CoQ10 concentration, " the authors write. " Widespread inhibition

of CoQ10 synthesis could explain the most commonly reported adverse

effects of statins, especially exercise intolerance, myalgia, and

myoglobinuria. "

The authors note that this study did not evaluate tissue levels of

CoQ10. " Despite this limitation, our findings raise the possibility

of a widespread inhibition of CoQ10 synthesis in patients treated

with atorvastatin, " the authors write. " Given the many patients

exposed to relatively high doses of this drug and the persistent

occurrence of adverse effects related to statins, it may be

reasonable to add CoQ10 in patients receiving long-term treatment

with statins in general, and atorvastatin in particular. This

recommendation is strengthened by the general experience that oral

CoQ10 — even in high doses — is well tolerated by patients. "

Pfizer Inc., the Hazel K. Goddess Fund, and the Muscular Dystrophy

Association supported this study. One of the authors has received

honoraria for lecturing and consulting from Pfizer Inc.

Arch Neurol. 2004;61:889-892

Reviewed by D. Vogin, MD

Laurie Barclay, MD Freelance writer for Medscape Medical News

Medscape Medical News is edited by Deborah Flapan, assistant managing

editor of news at Medscape. Send press releases and comments to

news@....

Medscape Medical News 2004. © 2004 Medscape

--- In , " Rodney " <perspect1111@y...>

wrote:

> It is quite extraordinary the number of afflictions statins appear

to protect against.

[Guest guest]

Another warning that I read about statins is for hypothyroids. I have

been taking statins for a year or so but recently had wondered about

any contraindications and that's where I saw mention of hypothyroid

conditions. So I think I'll drop the statin " Lipemol "

Canary Peg

> > It is quite extraordinary the number of afflictions statins appear

> to protect against.