IS CO Q10 REALLY VALUABLE IN SHIELDING STATIN INDUCED MYOPATHY-AN EXPLORATION

Is Co Q10 Shielding in Statin Induced Myopathy

Abstract

Objective: This study was designed to scrutinize the shielding effects of Co enzyme Q10 (Co Q10) supplementation in statin associated muscular adverse effects in rabbits.
Study Design: Randomized controlled trial.
Place and Duration of Study: Pharmacology dept Army Medical College Rawalpindi from Jan 2012 to Jun 2012.
Material and Methods: Twenty two healthy rabbits were taken and divided into four equal groups randomly with six in each batch. The two groups (G1 & G2) were given toxic doses of simvastatin (60mg/kg/day) with and without Co Q10 (5mg/kg/day) orally for 14 days and rest of two groups (G3 & G4) were kept on therapeutic doses (1mg/kg/day) of simvastatin with and without Co Q10 (5mg/kg/day) orally for 90 days. Blood samples were drawn and serum creatinine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were assessed before and after the drug therapy. Histopathological examination was done to observe the inflammatory changes under light microscope. The results were analyzed by applying paired “t’ test, independent “t” test and ANOVA test for biochemical markers and ‘Chi-Square test’ for histopathologcal findings. The p-value < 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: The biochemical markers went up sharply (G1. CK=28899.5 ± 874.09 IU/L & LDH = 4694.33 ± 352 IU/L) & (G2. CK = 29191.33 ± 3019.79 IU/L & LDH = 4334.83 ± 143.44 IU/L) as compared to baseline values. They were given toxic doses of simvastatin with and without Co Q10. Histopathological examination of muscular tissue also revealed gross inflammatory changes in these groups. However histopathological examination of groups who were given therapeutic doses of simvastatin with and without Co Q10 for 90 days showed mild to moderate inflammatory changes but serum CK and LDH remained in the normal ranges in these groups.
Conclusion: Our results suggest that Co Q10 supplementation could not produce any beneficial effects on the statin induced muscular adverse effects.