Current mainstream medical opinion states that cardiovascular disease is caused by a high intake of dietary cholesterol, that in turn increases plasma levels of cholesterol. Based on their erroneous and unsubstantiated claims, allopathic medicine looks to treat cardiovascular disease through manipulation of plasma cholesterol levels. As well as dietary advice to eat a low cholesterol diet, the use of drugs features strongly in this treatment protocol.
Statins
The current mainstream therapy for cardiovascular disease involves the use of statin drugs. These drugs are used because they lower plasma cholesterol levels by inhibiting its synthesis. Studies show the statins to be effective at causing a reduction in death by cardiovascular disease, but do not show improvements in total mortality when compared to a placebo. In fact taking statins is associated with an increase in suicide, violent death and cancer.
Statins And Muscle Pain
Another problem with statins is their ability cause severe side effects. In particular, statins are associated with muscle pain. The reason for this muscle pain has been investigated and may be due to be a depletion of the coenzyme Q10 in skeletal muscle. Statins deplete coenzyme Q10 because both cholesterol and coenzyme Q10 are synthesised from the same pathway. This is problematic because coenzyme Q10 is required in all muscle, and the heart is made of muscle tissue.
Coenzyme Q10 And The Heart
Statins deplete coenzyme Q10 from both the skeletal muscle and heart muscle. This is detrimental because depletion of coenzyme Q10 from the heart may increase the long term risk of cardiac death. In fact the manufacturers of statins are aware of this problem and as a result have now started including coenzyme Q10 with their statin drugs. The short term nature of most statin trials raises the question of whether statin drugs may actually increase cardiovascular disease rates.
Coenzyme Q10 And Heart Health
Heart muscle cells use fatty acids as their primary source of fuel. This process relies on adequate coenzyme Q10, which forms part of the complex of coenzymes in the electron transport chain of the mitochondria. Coenzyme Q10 also protects blood lipids and the artery walls from oxidation because it also has antioxidant properties in cell membranes. Coenzyme Q10 might be beneficial against congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, cardiomyopathy and heart arrhythmias.
Coenzyme Q10 And Food
Taking coenzyme Q10 is therefore beneficial at maintaining proper heart function. Although coenzyme Q10 can be synthesised endogenously, as we age the rate of production declines. For this reason dietary sources may become more important. Coenzyme Q10 is not present in commonly eaten foods and therefore obtaining coenzyme Q10 from the diet is problematic. Supplements may therefore offer the best solution to maintaining optimal blood levels.
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