Effect of coenzyme q10 supplementation on statin-induced myalgias
The American Journal of Cardiology, 07/30/2012
Clinical Article
Bookstaver DA et al. – CoQ10 did not produce a greater response than placebo in the treatment of presumed statin–induced myalgias.
Methods- Patients currently receiving a statin who developed new–onset myalgias in ≥2 extremities within 60 days of initiation or a dosage increase were eligible.
- Patients continued statin therapy and were randomized using a matched design to either CoQ10 60 mg twice daily or matching placebo.
- Double–blind treatment continued for 3 months, and patients completed a 10–cm visual analog scale (VAS) and the Short–Form McGill Pain Questionnaire at baseline and at each monthly visit.
- The primary end point was the comparison of the VAS score at 1 month.
- A total of 76 patients were enrolled (40 in the CoQ10 arm and 36 in the placebo arm).
- The mean VAS score was 6 cm at baseline in both groups.
- At 1 month, no difference was seen in the mean VAS score between the 2 groups (3.9 cm in the CoQ10 group and 4 cm in the placebo group; p = 0.97).
- However, 5 patients in the CoQ10 group and 3 in the placebo group discontinued therapy during the first month because of myalgias.
- The baseline median score on the Sensory Pain Rating Index subscale was 10 in the CoQ10 group and 11.5 in the placebo group.
- At 1 month, these scores had decreased to 6.5 and 7.5, respectively, with no statistically significant difference (p = 0.34).
