A randomized trial of coenzyme Q10 in patients with confirmed Statin Myopathy. Issue 2 (February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Taylor, Beth A.; Lorson, Lindsay; White, C. Michael; Thompson, Paul D.
• Is Part Of: Atherosclerosis. Volume 238:Issue 2(2015)
• Page Start: 329
• Page End: 335
• Publication Date: 2015-02
• Subjects: Statin -- Myalgia -- Ubiquinol -- CoQ10 -- Muscle pain -- Exercise -- Muscle strength -- Aerobic performance; coQ10 coenzyme Q10 -- HMG-CoA hydroxy-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A -- CK creatine kinase -- VO2max maximal oxygen uptake -- BPI brief pain inventory -- PSS pain severity score -- PIS pain interference score; Arteriosclerosis -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.136
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2014.12.016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9150

Abstract

Abstract: Background : Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation is the most popular therapy for statin myalgia among both physicians and patients despite limited and conflicting evidence of its efficacy. Objective : This study examined the effect of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation on simvastatin-associated muscle pain, muscle strength and aerobic performance in patients with confirmed statin myalgia. Methods : Statin myalgia was confirmed in 120 patients with prior symptoms of statin myalgia using an 8-week randomized, double-blind crossover trial of simvastatin 20 mg/d and placebo. Forty-one subjects developed muscle pain with simvastatin but not with placebo and were randomized to simvastatin 20 mg/d combined with CoQ10 (600 mg/d ubiquinol) or placebo for 8 weeks. Muscle pain (Brief Pain Inventory [BPI]), time to pain onset, arm and leg muscle strength, and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) were measured before and after each treatment. Results : Serum CoQ10 increased from 1.3 ± 0.4 to 5.2 ± 2.3 mcg/mL with simvastatin and CoQ10, but did not increase with simvastatin and placebo (1.3 ± 0.3 to 0.8 ± 0.2) ( p < 0.05). BPI pain severity and interference scores increased with simvastatin therapy (both p < 0.01), irrespective of CoQ10 assignment ( p = 0.53 and 0.56). There were no changes in muscle strength or VO2max with simvastatin with or without CoQ10 (all p > 0.10). Marginally more subjects reported pain with CoQ10 (14 of 20 vs 7 of 18; p = 0.05). There was no difference in time to pain onset in the CoQ10 (3.0 ± 2.0 weeks) vs. placebo (2.4 ± 2.1 wks) groups ( p = 0.55). A similar lack of CoQ10 effect was observed in 24 subjects who were then crossed over to the alternative treatment. Conclusions : Only 36% of patients complaining of statin myalgia develop symptoms during a randomized, double-blind crossover of statin vs placebo. CoQ10 supplementation does not reduce muscle pain in patients with statin myalgia. Trial Registration NCT01140308 ; www.clinicaltrials.gov . Highlights: Approximately 1/3 of patients who reported statin myalgia in the past had verified statin myalgia through the double-blind run-in confirmation phase. CoQ10 supplementation had no beneficial effect on muscle pain, muscle strength, or aerobic exercise capacity. Previous discordant results may have occurred because studies utilized only 30–50% of patients with true statin myalgia. It is critical to develop more objective tools to diagnose and differentiate statin myalgia for both clinical and research use.