As I am not a research scientist but a practicing physician, I have to trust what I observe in terms of progress or lack thereof in my patients. Naturally, it makes me even happier when I find my observations confirmed by established research institutions. For example, according to the Linus Pauling Institute of Oregon State University, “A meta-analysis of 12 clinical trials conducted in 2007 based on altogether 362 hypertensive patients found that supplemental CoQ10 reduced systolic blood pressure by 11-17 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure by 8-10 mm Hg. The four randomized controlled trials included in this meta-analysis worked with doses of 100-120 mg per day of CoQ10.” I understand that research scientists have to be more careful and guarded in their statements, and thus will never go out on a limb. Considering this, I take the findings of the above trials as a flat-out endorsement.
A group of MDs who specialize in cardiovascular disease, from Tyler, Texas, USA went even further in what they communicated, based on their own study with fifty consecutive new cardiology clinic patients. I will quote their abstract verbatim, as it is highly informative. Furthermore, the data appear more credible to me, as they come from independent practicing physicians rather than drug research scientists, who are subject to the special interests of – whoever it is who employs them.
This is what the cardiologists from Texas had to say, “Fifty consecutive new cardiology clinic patients who were on statin drug therapy [i.e. the conventionally prescribed medication for such patients]for an average of 28 months, on their initial visit were evaluated for possible adverse statin effects (myalgia, fatigue, dyspnea, memory loss and peripheral neuropathy). All patients discontinued statin therapy due to side effects and began supplemental CoQ10 at an average of 240 mg per day, upon initial visit. Patients have been followed for an average of 22 months… The prevalence of patient symptoms on initial visit and on most recent follow-up demonstrated a decrease in fatigue from 84% to 16%; myalgia down from 64% to 16%; dyspnea from 58% to 12%; memory loss from 8% to 4%; and peripheral neuropathy from 10% to 2%. There were two deaths from lung cancer and one death from aortic stenosis with no strokes or myocardial infarctions. Measurement of heart function either improved or remained stable in the majority of patients. We conclude that statin-related side effects, including statin-cardiomyopathy, are far more common than previously published and are reversible with the combination of statin discontinuation and supplemental CoQ10. We saw no adverse consequences from statin discontinuation.”
The problem with the conventional drug therapy simply is that CoQ10 is an essential nutrient in the body and for the body, and no matter what brand of statin drug one prescribes, as part of its mechanism it will deplete the CoQ10 levels in the body. Nothing of this is news, but it still will sound new to many who have never heard about it: even back in 2005 there already existed 15 published trials on statin-induced CoQ10 depletion in humans. Of these 15 trials, 9 were controlled trials, eight of which documented significant CoQ10 depletion.
Integrative medicine, plus CoQ10 supplementation may simply be the better answer to the problem of high BP combined with high cholesterol; even more so, as cholesterol may also merely serve as a scapegoat for bad diet and bad lifestyle choices. Remember: without cholesterol the body cannot function, especially not the brain!