# Association of Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation With Statin-Associated Muscle Symptoms in Long-Term Statin Users

## TL;DR

This study found that Coenzyme Q10 supplementation may help reduce muscle symptoms caused by statin use in long-term patients.

## Contribution

The study provides evidence that CoQ10 could be an effective adjunct for managing statin-associated muscle symptoms.

## Key findings

- CoQ10 supplementation led to a greater reduction in VAS and pain interference scores compared to no supplementation.
- The differences in symptom improvement between groups were statistically significant (p = 0.001).

## Abstract

Introduction: Statins are among the most commonly prescribed medications for lowering blood cholesterol levels and are considered safe and effective. However, statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS) remain a frequent adverse effect encountered in clinical settings.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) with no supplementation in the management of statin-associated muscle symptoms among patients on statin therapy.

Methods: This observational study was conducted in the Department of Medicine at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU), Islamabad, over a period of six months following ethical approval. A total of 106 patients with clinically identified SAMS were included. Group A (n=53) comprised patients who received CoQ10 (50 mg twice daily), while Group B (n=53) included patients who received no supplementation and were managed conservatively.

Results: Patients in Group A who received CoQ10 showed a greater reduction in both VAS and pain interference scores compared to Group B. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant (p = 0.001), suggesting better symptom control in the CoQ10 group.

Conclusion: CoQ10 supplementation (50 mg twice daily) was associated with improved control of statin-associated muscle symptoms in an observational clinical setting. These findings support its potential role as an adjunctive option for patients experiencing muscle-related side effects from statin therapy.