Historically, I haven’t been too enthused about CoQ10 as a supplement given the underwhelming trials and mixed results in abrogating drug-associated muscle symptoms in those on statins. I think creatine supplementation is a much more compelling option, and I think the depletion of isoprenoids (as I write about HERE) as well as disruptions in calcium signaling are more relevant to the statin-muscle aches story.

But THIS STUDY highlights the potential interplay between statins, CoQ10, and ASTROCYTES, which are important glial cells in the brain.  Glial cells are “Support Staff Cells” that help the neurons, which are sort of like the Central Nervous System CEOs.  And since astrocytes are shaped like stars, they are true Rock Stars when it comes to helping the brain run efficiently.

Ok, so statins are well-known to decrease cholesterol synthesis, and they also decrease CoQ10 synthesis.  So what is CoQ10?  I asked a Costco lady this question once, and she almost cried while muttering something about antioxidants.  I felt bad, so I bought some, and at least it tasted pretty good…kind of like a lemon meringue syrup.

But I don’t really blame the Costco lady for her meltdown…CoQ10 is pretty complicated, and depending on whether it’s partially oxidized, fully oxidized, or reduced, it can be called semiquinone, ubiquinone, or ubiquinol. And this highlights the ubiquitous importance of cellular REDOX status, which is the Cellular Seesaw that dictates whether or not you’re going to be having fun or just sitting there because your friend on the other side weighs 350 pounds. This balance is critical in ATP (energy) production, and CoQ10 is super important in facilitating the transfer of electrons between the various complexes of the electron transport chain.  Essentially, CoQ10 helps REV UP YOUR MITCHONDRIAL CELLULAR BATTERIES so you can actually have fun on Life’s Playground.

But the Costco lady was partially right…CoQ10 does have some antioxidant (free radical-scavenging) properties as well!  Have yourself a hot dog, Connie the Sample Gal!

Ok, so by this time Costco has opened and you’re probably on your way there, but now let’s actually talk about the study.  Numerous caveats abound, because this was a 6-day cell culture study using baby rat astrocytes (Ratstro-cytes).  However, the doses of atorvastatin, simvastatin, and CoQ10 employed by the researchers were meant to approximate human exposure levels.  And the findings were quite interesting…saddle up!

• Statin-treated astrocytes INCREASED antioxidant capacity, including the activity of the following antioxidant-related and stress adaptation pathways:
  • Nrf2 activity (you could say this “shoots down oxidative stress and toxic processes with Nerf bullets) increased, along with superoxide dismutase (SOD1) and glutathione reductase.  This resulted in a net decrease in reactive oxygen species (ROS).  Too much Ross can make cells commit apoptosis, so this seems good.
  • BDNF, which stands for Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor, INCREASED in statin treated cells…so far, so good!  We all love neuronal survival and neuroprotection!
  • Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF1α) also increased…this one is a little tricky, since, like most things in biology, there is a “Sweet Spot.”  Chronic oxygen deprivation is a good way to die, but short-term oxygen debt (think altitude training and intense exercise) can result in beneficial downstream adaptations, particularly in the realm of angiogenesis.  You can read more about HIF1α in the central nervous system HERE.

But what about CoQ10 levels?  Quite predictably, statin-treated cells were significantly depleted of CoQ9 (which is involved in CoQ10 synthesis) and CoQ10.  The most profound reduction was in the reduced form of CoQ10, ubiquinol.  And what were the implications of this CoQ10 depletion?

Statin-treated astrocytes showed a 14-27% DECREASE in ATP levels.  Proton leak increased, and mitochondrial coupling efficiency decreased.  The cellular batteries were unable to get revved up to full capacity, and prolonged exposure to elevated statin levels impaired astrocyte viability. 

BUT…supplementation with CoQ10 restored cellular CoQ10 levels as well as ATP levels!  Energy crisis averted!  Interestingly, CoQ10 didn’t have much of an effect on ROS, suggesting that the potential benefit of CoQ10 in astrocytes is more due to restoration of mitochondrial bioenergetics rather than enhancing antioxidant pathways.  Sorry, Costco Connie.

So what can we conclude from this study?  Well, we can generate some hypotheses, and here are my parting thoughts, which might be worth about as much as Costco CoQ10 samples:

Statins are potent autophagy agents, but sometimes cellular housekeeping can sap your energy for other tasks.  But maybe if you’re an astrocyte, a little CoQ10 can allow you to clean your house and still make time to have fun riding the Redox Seesaw on Life’s Playground…it’s at least plausible!  So if you’re on a statin and this study has inspired you to take some CoQ10, I’d say Jarrow Ubiquinol is a good product (I have no affiliations or financial relationship with them…you should know better, since I’m the world’s worst businessman). 

As always, we have much more to learn!