Co Q10

[jobe1968]

I read all sorts about this. And statins depleting it.

Does anybody have any experience of it. My statin dose is very high at 80mg. Fortunately not aware of any side effects after two months of taking it.

Now almost two months after my HA and stunting. Trying to implement lifestyle changes to reduce cholesterol and triglycerides also the drug treatment.

Still wondering about results of a blood test a couple of weeks ago but hoping the statins have kicked in. Does anybody have experience of before and after statin blood tests.

How much reduction is realistic in two months.

Mike

Regards

Mike

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

This was discussed a month ago: healthunlocked.com/bhf/post....

Dose of statin varies with type of statin and reduction in cholesterol depends on both starting point and dietry changes. Somebody may have observations if you post these details.

[jobe1968 in reply to MichaelJH]

Starting point of 7. I am unsure how this breaks down into ldl hdl.

Diet is mainly vegetables and whole grains since the HA. Very little meat. Some lean chicken and salmon. Baked or steamed.

No alcohol

No processed meats

No pastry

No butter

Oils consumed as olive oil

As my level was high am wondering what kind of effect the statin will have with both diet change and medication.

[Bazza1234 in reply to jobe1968]

Time will soon tell you - maybe 3 months or so?? I have had high cholesterol levels all my life 8.5 to 10.5 mmol/L and have finished up with atherosclerosis (calcification/hardening of heart arteries) at age 71. I have always resisted taking statins - but diet control and exercise ( I am a runner) basically did not reduce my cholesterol levels - a small 5mg Crestor has reduced it by 50% to 4.4 ( recomended level for most) but I have recently increased it to 20 mg to get it down further below 4 because of my already developed atherosclerosis ( don't want it to get any worse! )

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to jobe1968]

As everybody reacts slightly differently you cannot tell exactly what the reduction will be. My guess is 4 +/-0.5.

[jobe1968 in reply to MichaelJH]

Well waiting lipids doctors input. Saw him August 3rd. He said he may introduce more aggressive treatment depending on results from blood test

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to jobe1968]

My understanding is although it may be coming down after a few weeks it takes 6 - 8 weeks to stabilise. The blood test that needs doing is LFT as statins can affect the liver (rare).

[jobe1968]

I see. At the lipids clinic I was sent for a blood test but was not advised which tests.

I assume they will have tested lipids and liver function.

I am not holding my breath as I contacted the clinic today and was informed they have a two to three month delay in sending out results letters.

[stevejb1810 in reply to jobe1968]

What? 2-3 months? We get ours within a week (and yes that is the NHS). 2-3 months I would say is wholly unacceptable. Still, be that as it may, your cholesterol will start coming down almost immediately but it will take a couple of months to stabilise out. My guess is that with your dietary changes a value below 5 at the end of your first month is quite likely (but it sounds like you will not know for another 2-3 months anyway!!)

[jobe1968 in reply to stevejb1810]

That is the NHS

[stevejb1810]

One other thing, Co Q10 depletes as you age so even without statins it’ll be decreasing. I’ve yet to see any hard clinical evidence, from reputable scientific sources, that says taking Co Q10 supplements makes any difference to anything. But, as you rightly point out, it keeps coming up and so I keep looking for the evidence.

[jobe1968 in reply to stevejb1810]

Well I am taking it just in case. Worst case is I am wasting money. I have fish oil and Co q10 with breakfast and dinner. I am curious to see if the fish oil helps raise my HDL which is low at 0.81

I will hopefully have bloods checked in a couple of months and see. With the co q10 I think it will be difficult to quantify any benefits. Maybe it will just function as a placebo.

[stevejb1810 in reply to jobe1968]

There is a lot to be said for the placebo effect - and that does have scientific proof😉

[jobe1968]

Just as feed back.

Have been taking my Statins for 8 months now.

Also

co Q10 as ubiquinol

Niacin B3

Fish oil capsules

Total Cholesterol (7.1) 3.8

LDL calculated (5). 1.7

HDL. (0.85). 0.89***

Lipids. (3.1). 1.3

Total/HDL RATIO. (8.3). 3.6

*** HDL was 1.26 on non fasting test one month earlier. Not sure why the disparity other than difference between random test and fasting.

So for me it’s clear the Statins and diet changes have had a large effect on my lipids profile.

The LDL is in the optimum range however HDL could be better. Not sure how to improve this other than to exercise more etc.

Figure in brackets 23/06/2018. No brackets end of Jan 2019.