People taking a cholesterol-lowering statin should consider supplementing with coenzyme Q10 in order to reduce the drugs’ risk of causing diabetes, researchers say.
Statins increase the risk of type II diabetes by nine per cent, and researchers from Oregon State University suspect this is because the drugs alter a protein that helps control blood sugar levels.
The effect can be blocked by supplementing with coenzyme Q10, the researchers believe, although their hypothesis is so far based only on tests with laboratory animals.
People at risk are those taking simvastatin or one of its derivates, including atorvastatin and lovastatin, which together make up the vast majority of the statin market.
(Source: Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders, 2013; doi: 10.1089/met.2012.0177).
