Selenoprotein synthesis and side-effects of statins
I must admit that this biochemical pathway much have been covered while I was sleeping in biochemisty… I have always felt that the side effects from statin drugs was related to their inhibition of CoQ10 synthesis via the inhibition of the the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase. This enzyme produces mevalonate, which is a precursor to both cholesterol and CoQ10. Maybe the answer to patients who suffered fatal rhabdomyalisis (basically their muscles melted) lies somewhere with both mechanisms. I could envision a SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) along both pathways that severely reduced these patient’s antioxidant reserves. Either way, there are so many other ways to lower cholesterol that most patients would not have to use them if they were willing to make the right lifestyle choices.
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