Patients on statins should take coenzyme Q10 to prevent myopathies.

  Some clinicians are recommending coenzyme Q10 to prevent myopathy in patients taking statins.

  There is evidence that serum levels of coenzyme Q10 decrease with chronic use of statins. By inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, statins inhibit formation of mevalonate, a precursor to coenzyme Q10.

  Some researchers think low coenzyme Q10 levels can cause mitochondrial dysfunction leading to the myopathy that is associated with use of statins. But this is based on theory, not facts.