This is the first in a two-part series on coenzyme Q10, which is sometime referred to as The Miracle Nutrient. In fact, The Miracle Nutrient: Coenzyme Q10 is the title of a book that was written by Emile Bliznakov, MD, who was one of the first scientists to research and report the benefits of coenzyme Q10 to the non-scientific population of the world. CoQ10 has been known of for 60 years. There are two forms: an oxidized form (Ubiquinone) and a reduced form (Ubiquinol). The ubiquinol form is unstable and has only been in the USA market since 2006. The ubiquinone form had been in the USA market since 1974. Ubiquinol is poorly researched while there are more than 2000 scientific articles on ubiquinone.

Coenzyme Q10 or CoQ10, was discovered by biochemist Fred Crane at the University of Wisconsin in 1957. Coenzyme Q10 is a yellow crystalline substance that belongs to a class of compounds called quinones. Since all living things create some form of this compound for energy production, it was given the chemical name ubiquinone, which is a contraction of ubiquitous (meaning everywhere) and quinone.

Dr. Crane sent a sample of the yellow crystals he had isolated from beef heart mitochondria to Dr. Karl Folkers for analysis and confirmation. At the time, Folkers was a leading biochemist at the pharmaceutical company Merck, Sharpe and Dohme. In 1958, Dr. Folkers determined the exact structure of CoQ10 and conducted some preliminary studies, which suggested that CoQ10 had enormous potential as a cardiovascular drug. When Folkers made his recommendations to Merck’s top management, they were not interested because Merck had recently launched a new blood pressure-lowering drug named Diuril. Since Merck had already trained their drug sales force and committed a huge budget to marketing and advertising Diuril, they did not want to introduce another cardiovascular drug into the marketplace that would compete with their own newly launched drug. Subsequently, Merck sold the patents rights on CoQ10 to a Japanese firm.

It took the Japanese about ten years to learn how to develop the technology that enabled the production of pure coenzyme Q10 in quantities that were adequate to support clinical trials in heart failure patients in Japan. During this ten year development time period, some small trials revealed that the ubiquinol form of CoQ10 was also a powerful antioxidant. As an energizer and an antioxidant, CoQ10 was found to be an effective natural product for the management of individuals with congestive heart failure.

Coenzyme Q10 and Energy Production:
Coenzyme Q10 in the oxidized form (ubiquinone) is required for energy production in the mitochondria of all cells except the red blood cells. Specifically, CoQ10 is required in several steps of what is called the electron transport chain in mitochondrial inner membranes, which is where cellular energy, knows as ATP, is produced. In the 1960s, biochemist Peter Mitchell, Ph.D. first put forth his theories on how coenzyme Q10 participates in and is required for energy production in mitochondria. In 1978, Dr. Mitchell was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his discovery. Peter Mitchell is still recognized as the scientist who revolutionized coenzyme Q10 research and educated the world about CoQ’s central role in the production of energy in all living organisms.

Coenzyme Q10 deficiency and the resulting decline in energy production quickly affects systems in the body that have high metabolic energy requirements such as the lungs, kidneys, brain, immune system and muscles. Yes, especially muscles. Since the heart is the most energy-demanding muscle in the body, one of the first effects of CoQ10 deficiency is a weakening of the heart.

Coenzyme Q10 Deficiency And Congestive Health Failure:
Because CoQ10 deficiency reduces the ability of the heart to generate energy, some of the first observations regarding this newly discovered nutritional substance were that patients with congestive heart failure had low levels of coenzyme Q10. Based on these early findings, some of the first clinical trials with CoQ10 involved patients with chronic heart failure, which is also known as congestive heart failure. And, CoQ10 therapy in patients with heart disease turned out to be ASTOUNDINGLY successful. In fact, the author of one study felt compelled to call CoQ10 therapy a scientific breakthrough in the management of chronic heart failure.¹

Initially, coenzyme Q10 was introduced in Japan as a prescription drug for the treatment of various forms of cardiovascular disease. It remained one of the top-selling cardiovascular drugs in Japan for over twenty years. In 1991 coenzyme Q10 was taken off prescription drug status and made available as an over-the-counter product to the general public. Almost immediately, use of CoQ10 in Japan skyrocketed, which caused a world-wide shortage of supply and resulted in a substantial increase in its price.

Coenzyme Q10: A Critical Antioxidant
Coenzyme Q10 in the reduced form (Ubiquinol) is a fat-soluble antioxidant that is made in all cells throughout the body. In fact, CoQ10 is the ONLY fat-soluble antioxidant that is made in the body, which results from the enzymatic conversion of ubiquinone to ubiquinol. CoQ10’s (Ubiquinol) most important functions are its ability to inhibit oxidative free radical damage to the fats that comprise the structure of cellular membranes throughout the body.²

For decades cardiologists have prescribed statin drugs in the belief that elevated LDL-cholesterol is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. There is increasing skepticism regarding the level of risk associated with elevated LDL-cholesterol and the frequent prescribing of statins. However, it is well accepted that when LDL-cholesterol undergoes free radical damage, it becomes a “damaged” molecule that is referred to as oxidized LDL-cholesterol. Oxidized LDL-cholesterol is capable of causing damage to the lining of the blood vessels. In a simplification of a complex process, we can simply say that the body creates plaque deposits in an effort to repair this damage. So, it is really oxidized LDL-cholesterol that initiates plaque build-up and increases the risks of heart attacks and strokes.

In a 1997 study on coenzyme Q10 and statin drugs, cardiologist Svend Mortensen made the following important statement. Dr. Mortensen announced that CoQ10 is an antioxidant that is “packaged into the LDL & VLDL fractions of cholesterol.” This means that the LDL cholesterol molecule is the primary method by which coenzyme gets transported around the body. Thus, when CoQ10 is being transported on the LDL cholesterol molecule, CoQ10’s antioxidant properties enable it to protect LDL cholesterol against oxidative damage. This is one way that CoQ10 reduces cardiovascular disease risks.³

Coenzyme Q10 Lowers Elevated Blood Pressure
In 1980, Dr. Folkers reported treating 16 patients with high blood pressure (10 already taking BP meds and 6 untreated) with CoQ10 14 of 16 patients achieved significant lowering of systolic blood pressure and 11/16 achieved significant lowering of diastolic blood pressure. In the patients who had elevated blood pressure even though they were taking BP-lowering drugs, 9 of 10 achieved reductions that brought their blood pressure readings into the normal range.⁴

Another study that demonstrates coenzyme Q10’s blood pressure lowering ability was conducted by cardiologist Peter Langsjoen. He selected 109 of his patients with hypertension and added CoQ10 (average dose was 225 mg/day) to their existing medications. The average time of from initial diagnosis was 9.2 years and many patients were taking two or three blood pressure-lowering medications to keep their pressure within the acceptable range. Within six months of initiating high-dose CoQ10 therapy, 55 of 109 (51 percent) of the patients experienced reductions in their blood pressure readings that enabled them to discontinue taking their blood pressure medications.⁵

More recently, a meta-analysis of 12 clinical trials reported that CoQ10 lowered systolic blood pressure by 17 points and it lowered diastolic blood pressure approximately 10 points.⁶ Thus, the blood pressure lowering effect of coenzyme Q10 is sufficient to keep hundreds of thousands of individuals with borderline hypertension from having to take blood pressurelowering medications.

The FDA Inhibits Education
Utilization of coenzyme Q10 in the United States has lagged behind that of Japan and European countries for several reasons. Nearly 2,000 studies have been published in which either coenzyme Q10 or CoQ10 appear in the title of the study. However, in the United States, FDA policy prohibits nutritional supplement companies from making ANY reference to ANY health claims regarding a nutritional product. This greatly inhibits the public's access to educational information about the benefits of nutritional supplements. Also, pharmaceutical companies are not interested in promoting information about CoQ10 or CoQ10 products because it is a natural product, which means a drug company cannot have an exclusive patent on it. Another reason drug companies don't want the word to get out about coenzyme Q10 is the fact that it is SAFER and MORE EFFECTIVE than most cardiovascular drugs on the market, which is a multi-billion-dollar market for the pharmaceutical industry.

Coenzyme Q10 And Statin Drugs:
In 1987 the FDA approved the first statin drug named lovastatin, which was marketed by Merck under the brand name Mevacor. Statins work by blocking an enzyme in the liver named HMGCoA reductase, which is required for the biosynthesis of cholesterol. When a statin drug blocks HMG-CoA reductase, the synthesis of cholesterol is inhibited and cholesterol blood levels decline fairly rapidly.

Lovastatin's success at lowering cholesterol levels resulted in other drug companies bringing their version of a statin drug to the market. Statin drugs became a "goldmine" for the pharmaceutical industry. There are currently seven statin drugs available in the United States and statins became one of the best-selling classes of drugs in history. In 2011, global sales of statin drugs exceeded $39 billion. Also, in 2009 and 2010, Lipitor (atorvastatin) was ranked as the #1 selling drug in the world with 2009 sales of $11 billion and 2010 sales of $10 billion.

The Dark Side of Statin Drugs:
It is estimated that about 32 million Americans (about 25 percent of people aged 45 and older) are taking statin drugs. In February 2016, The FDA mandated the addition of new warnings regarding potential statin drug side effects which include increased risks of liver damage, confusion and memory loss, type 2 diabetes and muscle weakness.

One of the most serious side effects of statin drugs is something that the FDA has still refused to address. The HMG-CoA reductase enzyme that is critical for cholesterol synthesis is also required for the synthesis of coenzyme Q10. Multiple studies document the fact that in addition to lowering cholesterol levels, statin drug therapy also causes a dramatic decline in coenzyme Q10 levels.^7,8

Drugs That Deplete Coenzyme Q10:
In addition to statins, the following other classes of commonly prescribed drugs deplete coenzyme Q10; oral contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), oral hypoglycemic drugs such as metformin for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, thiazide diuretics, beta-blockers and tricyclic antidepressants. Because they inhibit the production of CoQ10, these drugs induce low energy syndromes resulting in reduced muscle function.

Next month, in Part 2 of this series we will discuss coenzyme Q10's role in the prevention and treatment of cancer and various other diseases, its function as an effective anti-aging nutrient, and issues related to CoQ10 recrystallization and the relative absorption and effectiveness of various CoQ10 products on the market.

References

1. Morensen SA. Coenzyme Q10: clinical benefits with biochemical correlates suggesting a scientific breakthrough in the management of chronic heart failure. Int J Tissue Teact. 1990;12(3):155¡V 62.
2. Littarru GP, Bioenergetic and Antioxidant Properties of Coenzyme Q10: Recent Developments. Molecular Biotechnology. Sept. 2007; 37(1):31-7.
3. Mortensen SA. Dose-related decrease of serum coenzyme Q10 during treatment with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. Mol Aspects Med. 1997;18 Suppl:S137-44.
4. Folkers K. Bioenergetics in clinical medicine. XVI. Reduction of hypertension in patients bytherapy with coenzyme Q10. Res Comm Chem Pathol Pharmacol. 1981 Jan;31(1):129-40.
5. Langsjoen P. Treatment of essential hypertension with coenzyme Q10. Mol Aspects Med. 1994;15 Supp:S265-72.
6. Rosenfeldt FL, el al. Coenzyme Q10 in the treatment of hypertension: a meta-analysis of the clinical trials. Journal of Human Hypertension. 2007 apr;21(4):297-306.
7. Mortensen SA. Dose-related decrease of serum coenzyme Q10 during treatment with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. Mol Aspects Med. 1997;18 Suppl:S137-44.
8. G. Ghirlanda, et al., "Evidence of Plasma CoQ10-lowering Effect by HMGCoA Reductase Inhibitors: A DB PC Study," J Clin Pharmacol. March 1993; 33(3): 226-9

For over 40 years the conventional medical establishment has been telling us that high cholesterol levels are the main cause of heart disease. However, many scientific studies have shown that this is not the case.

• A Massachusetts Institute of Technology study examined the scientific literature on cholesterol and could not find one study with a clear cause and effect relationship between cholesterol and heart disease. Many similar studies have now confirmed this fact.
• Dr. Stephen Sinatra published a book entitled The Cholesterol Myth in which he recounts the original research on cholesterol over 50 years ago when 45 out of 50 studies could not find a clear connection between cholesterol as the cause of heart disease.
• Dr. Mark Hyman reviewed the literature on the effectiveness of statin drugs, the number one cholesterol medication, and determined that 150 people would need to take the drug before one person would live longer than they would have without taking the drug.

Yes, statin drugs do lower cholesterol, but it is very clear that they do not save many lives. And, this would seem to answer the question in the title of this article, that people still experience heart attacks even if they have perfect cholesterol. In fact, 50 percent of people who experience a heart attack have perfect cholesterol levels. So, if cholesterol is not the cause of heart disease, what is? There are several factors, but probably the main one is the presence of inflammation in the body. Inflammation can be caused by many factors including the following:

• Nutrition- eating eggs, dairy, animal protein, sugar, processed foods and non-organic foods.
• Toxins- chemicals in the air, water and food that we consume.
• Genetics- some people make fewer enzymes than needed, make too much cholesterol in their livers or have weaknesses in their arteries.
• Exercise- many people do not get enough exercise, which is needed to help arteries expand and contract.
• Stress- many people are overstressed, which causes the body to make cortisol, a hormone that can damage our arteries.
• Poor diet- beyond the bad foods mentioned above, many people simply do not eat enough nutritious food and are deficient in vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, Omega 3 fats, magnesium and many other nutrients that are important for the heart and cardiovascular system.

Many of these causes contribute to the development of inflammation in the body due to the oxidative process. When we consume or are exposed to unhealthy foods, toxins, stress or acidic foods, free radicals are created. These molecules have a missing electron, which steals an electron from one of our healthy cells. This creates a pothole in our arteries that must be repaired as soon as possible. The patching material is made in the liver and it is called, you guessed it, cholesterol. So, cholesterol is at the scene of the so-called crime, performing a very important function. Cholesterol also helps to make vitamin D3 and many other biochemicals. Lowering cholesterol too much can actually cause serious health issues in many parts of the body. This patching process could be completely avoided if people consumed enough antioxidants that can give back the missing electron that is often needed. And, where are these antioxidants found? They are in the more nutritious foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds with high levels of vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, zinc, and astaxanthin.

Based on this initial assessment on the cause of heart disease here are some beginning strategies.

• Eat a diet, such as the Mediterranean Diet, with an emphasis on vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds.
• Exercise at least 45 minutes every day with aerobic, strength and flexing included.
• Manage stress with avoidance, meditation, yoga, music, deep breathing, etc.
• Do not drink tap water due to the presence of fluoride and chlorine.
• Take nutritional supplements to optimize key nutrient levels such as vitamin C, vitamin D, magnesium, vitamin B, and Co-Enzyme Q10. These, and other, heart-friendly nutrients are deficient in the diets of a majority of people in the United States.
• And, if you want to take control of your personal health, and reduce the risk of ever having a heart attack, make sure you get the right tests to determine if you are beginning to move in that direction.

Most people get their blood tested as part of the health insurance program provided by their employer.

Others, who are not employed must arrange for tests on their own through Medicare or via personal health insurance plans. In any case, these tests are not usually adequate because of cost restrictions, or doctors who are not aware of the best blood tests to utilize. Here is an explanation of these blood test alternatives.

Tests usually provided in common situations:

• Cholesterol- usually total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol
• Glucose- either total glucose or A1C glucose (fasting level)
• Insulin- total insulin (fasting level) • Triglycerides- total triglycerides

Tests often added by personal request from the patient, or a progressive doctor:

• Hormones- either the male or the female panel
• C-reactive protein- measures the level of inflammation in the body
• Homocysteine- measures the level of vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and folate (methylators)
• Cortisol- measures the level of stress in the body
• RBC magnesium- this test is superior than current magnesium tests
• Glucose tolerance- this test can identify cellular sugar challenges five to seven years earlier

Tests rarely provided due to high cost and lack of awareness of their importance:

• INR- measures the thickness of the blood and thus the likelihood of clots forming
• Omega 3- measures the level of this healthy fat in the body
• CoQ10- measures this enzyme important for energy production and providing the DNA in our cells
• Heavy metals- measures the level of these dangerous toxins in the body
• Apolipoprotein B- measures the level of this early warning protein before LDL increases
• Galectin 3- measures Galectin levels which is an early warning marker for heart disease and cancer
• TMAO- trimethylamine N-oxide is a bacteria produced compound that measures the amount of choline in the body, which is known to contribute to the production of blood clots and plaque.

Many people might look at these tests and say why should I pay hundreds of dollars to get all of these tests? The answer could be that you probably only need to have these tests done every three to five years, depending on your age and health status. The more important reason would be that these tests could provide an early warning system, five to ten years earlier, for the future development of heart disease. By getting these tests every three to five years, and following the lifestyle guidelines previously mentioned, there is a high probability that you will never experience a heart attack or a stroke in your long and healthy lifetime.

When people read an article like this many will ask questions such as, “don’t I get all of the nutrients I need from the food I eat” or “can I take one pill to get all of the nutrients that are not in my food?” The answer to both questions is NO! It is virtually impossible to get all of the nutrients we need from food alone. In a study by the National Cancer Institute of over 16,000 people aged 2 to 80, the researchers could not find one person with a truly healthy diet. In fact, vast majorities were deficient in 11 out of 14 nutritional categories. They were not eating enough vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, nuts, and seeds. This is due to declining nutrients in the soil, over processing of foods, poor selection by shoppers, overcooking, poor chewing and compromised digestive systems. People are simply not getting the nutrients they need to sustain the healthy functioning of their cells. That is one of the main reasons why the number of adults with a chronic illness has increased from 10 percent over 60 years ago to nearly 70 percent today. When cells do not get the nutrients they need they go through a gradual deterioration process in five stages, as shown on the following page.

The recommended blood tests can identify changes in the body’s chemistry at the stressed and weakened stages of cellular deterioration, five to ten years before more serious problems develop.

A strategy to prevent and even reverse heart disease
Some people are very interested in avoiding heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular illnesses. They eat what they think is a healthy diet; they exercise as much as they feel is necessary; they avoid stress; they take nutritional supplements, and they get their blood tested every year. These are all good lifestyle decisions, as far as they go. However, as we have seen in this article these steps may not be sufficient to prevent heart disease or some other chronic illness. The blood tests that have been recommended can help to provide an early warning mechanism for anyone, which can then be augmented with nonbiochemical tests such as thermography, MRI for the carotid artery evaluation, and even a CT scan if it is deemed necessary. (Excess radiation exposure should be factored in.)

Nutritional superstars for the heart and cardiovascular system.
Conventional medicine will tell you that there is no science to support the use of nutritional supplements to improve your heart and circulation system. They even have a web site that repeats these erroneous messages on a regular basis. However, this is absolutely not true and there are thousands of clinical studies to prove that nutritional supplements help to prevent chronic illness and often reverse it. Some good sources for these studies are Life Extension Magazine, GreenMedInfo, Metagenics, and books entitled “The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine” and “The Prescription for Nutritional Healing.” There are over 40,000 scientific studies that prove nutritional supplements work very well, but the pharmaceutical industry does not want you to know that. Here are the top ten nutrients you should look into to protect your body from heart disease.

1. Co-enzyme Q10- protects our cellular nucleus and improves energy production in mitochondria.
2. Magnesium- is the transport agent for all glucose and insulin into the cell, to make energy.
3. Vitamin C- is the key antioxidant for reducing free radicals that cause damage to our arteries.
4. Vitamin D- regulates calcium levels, which impacts how nerves carry messages to the heart.
5. Resveratrol- protects blood vessel walls and promotes healthy levels of LDL and HDL.
6. Garlic- controls blood pressure, encourages blood vessels to stay open and slows plaque build-up.
7. Pycnogenol- helps thin the blood and control levels of dangerous choline in the body.
8. Omega 3 oils- reduces apolipoprotein B, triglycerides, and VLDL, all heart challengers.
9. Vitamin B- niacin (B3) lowers LDL and triglycerides; increases HDL and improves circulation. Vitamin B6, B12 and folate lower homocysteine levels (inflammation).
10. Modified citrus pectin- reduces heavy metals, lowers cholesterol, removes plaque and helps keep Galectin 3 levels in balance. Also, lowers PSA levels. Prevents cancer and kills cancer cells.

These nutrients perform many other useful functions to help keep our bodies healthy. CoQ10 helped reverse kidney disease in one study. Magnesium helps to prevent and reverse type 2 diabetes. Vitamin C treats many cancers effectively. Vitamin D3 reduces the risk of breast cancer by 77 percent and prostate cancer by 83 percent. These are truly the superstars of nutritional supplements. There are many other effective nutrients for heart health, and there is excellent science behind each and every one of them. This is merely a snapshot of what is possible in terms of improving someone’s ability to develop an evidence-based strategy for optimum heart health. Now you can complete this journey to better health by researching the recommendations presented here and working with your health care providers to find the best future strategy for you.

Probably 99 percent of doctors do not know that the medications they are prescribing are not only causing dangerous immediate side effects; they are also usually causing the depletion of nutrients necessary for your health. Here are some of the nutrients depleted by prescription medication:

1. Statin drugs—Depletes Beta Carotene, vitamin E and Co-enzyme Q10, which can cause heart failure with long-term use.
2. Anti-acids (aluminum)—Depletes vitamin A, folic acid, vitamin D, calcium, chromium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous and zinc. Too much acid does not cause most acid reflux cases; they are actually caused by too little acid.
3. Ciprofloxacin—Depletes biotin, inositol, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin K, zinc and intestinal bacteria. Long-term use of anti-bacterials, such as ciprofloxacin, can contribute to the development of drug resistant strains of bacteria.
4. Glyburide plus Metformin (Glucovance)—Depletes folic acid, vitamin B12, sodium and coenzyme Q10. In most cases, diabetes drugs can be avoided with better diet and exercise. An NIH study proved this with a group of pre-diabetics who did nearly 100 percent better with diet and exercise improvements to avoid advancing to full diabetes, then they did on Metformin.
5. Prednisone —Depletes vitamin A, vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin K, calcium, magnesium, potassium, selenium and zinc. Natural treatments for respiratory and gastrointestinal problems often work much better without side effects.
6. The Sartan class of drugs (Micardes HCT, Diovan HCT)—Depletes magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc and CoQ10. These blood pressure medications treat the symptoms of high blood pressure and lower it in some cases. In most patients, changes in diet will resolve the problem. This was proven in a book called the "DASH Diet."

These are just a few examples of the nutrient depletions caused by prescription medications. For more on this topic please see articles from the Life Extension Foundation.

Science-based workplace wellness
You can e-mail me if you are interested in learning more about how to prevent and reverse chronic disease in the workplace.

Our new Functional Medicine artificial intelligence platform has helped ten employers with over 20,000 employees to reduce the cost of healthcare 12 to 15 percent every year for five years in a row. If you want to find out how much your employer can save just multiply the number of employee's times $10,000 and then take 15 percent of that. One school district saved nearly $10 million.

I consider the benefits of most medications used to lower cholesterol (called “statin medications”) to be modest at best in those without known heart disease (called “primary prevention”). These medications lower heart attack death risk by less than two percent. To put this in perspective, having optimal thyroid levels, even when normal, is associated with a 69 percent lower risk of heart attack death. Even owning a cat is associated with a 30 percent lower risk. Despite these minimal benefits, the relatively high expense (costing the health care system over $12 billion a year), and the aggravating pain and fatigue that accompany their use in some patients, they are being heavily pushed — even being heavily marketed to pediatricians now.

I suspect this would not be happening if the medications were not so profitable, as controlling high blood pressure, decreasing excess sugar intake, exercising, stopping smoking and even eating fish are likely more heart protective than the medications — but simply less profitable.

A 2010 meta-analysis using data from 13 clinical trials with 91,140 participants shows these medications are associated with a nine percent increased risk of developing diabetes.¹

It is a good idea, of course, to follow your doctor’s advice. But it’s also okay to recognize that they are being targeted with massive amounts of drug company promotion, including conferences described by some as “advertisements masquerading as scientific activities.”

If you have a known heart problem, the benefits of these medications go way up. If not, it is okay to ask your doctor if improving diet, avoiding sugar, exercising, eating oily fish (tuna and salmon 3–4x week) and stopping smoking may be more beneficial.

References:

1. World J Diabetes. 2015 Mar 15; 6(2): 352–357.

Sometimes blind faith leads to a disaster. Sometimes a miracle. Where will you end up? If you're one of the millions of people diagnosed with high cholesterol, you will more than likely be given a prescription "statin" pill. These work well to reduce cholesterol: Lovastatin for Mevacor, atorvastatin for Lipitor, pravastatin for Pravachol, fluvastatin for Lescol, simvastatin for Zocor, pitavastatin for Livalo, and rosuvastatin for Crestor.

Statins affect many pathways in the body. They are strong anti-inflammatories and are being tested for their use in cancer patients. As for cholesterol reduction, they work by crushing a natural enzyme in your body that would otherwise produce cholesterol. I want you to make a mental note, statins do not suck out gooey cholesterol from your arteries, nor does it negate cheese fries. No, these drugs merely suppress new production of cholesterol. Here's where blind faith (take this pill and you'll feel better) collides with scientific research.

This month a study was published (in the Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology), entitled, Statins stimulate atherosclerosis and heart failure: pharmacological mechanisms. Repeat: "Statins stimulate atherosclerosis and heart failure." Whoa! The researchers concluded, "The epidemic of heart failure and atherosclerosis that plagues the modern world may paradoxically be aggravated by the pervasive use of statin drugs." What an irony! The problem is that many other studies have found similar disastrous effects on the heart. It has to do with mitochondrial dysfunction, which means that the little generators in your heart cells get sick.

Your heart is a very high energy muscle. It requires thriving, mitochondria in order to churn out ATP, your energy molecule. Statins are toxic to mitochondria because they deplete coenzyme Q10 which is needed for healthy mitochondria. Statins also deplete a special protein called "Heme A" that totes oxygen and iron to your heart. The long-term depletion interrupts ATP production and leads to cellular fatigue among other major problems. You cannot survive long-term without adequate ATP production so it needs to be restored. Fatigue, cramps, muscle weakness, memory loss, depression, cancer… you must have ATP in your body or else! (Biting my lip)

Statins inhibit the biosynthesis of vitamin K2 which we manufacture if we have healthy intestinal gut flora. Do you? I don't know anyone who has a perfect gut. K2 also comes from fermented veggies. It protects our arteries from calcium plaques or atherosclerosis. Without enough K2, statin-induced or not, we are compromised. (Eyes rolling now).

Today, we know statins block very special, powerful selenium-containing proteins known as selenoproteins, the most famous of those is called glutathione peroxidase, which protects muscle tissue from free radical damage (oxidation).

What's the busiest muscle in your body? It has to work 24/7. It's your heart! (Smacks forehead).

Your heart muscle cells are 'burned' form all the oxidation (due to the impairment of selenoprotein biosynthesis) and this is a factor in congestive heart failure. This reminds me of Keshan's disease which is heart failure due to low selenium.

If you have to take statins, please use the lowest dose possible. Be diligent about putting back the nutrients that statins interfere with such as the coenzyme Q10, selenium, and vitamin K2, along with other heart healthy nutrients. There are exceptions to taking these nutrients so ask your doctor (yes, the same one that gave you the statin) This is a classic case of drug mugging, and I hope you will consider replenishing some of the affected nutrients, especially if you have uncomfortable or new symptoms. Talk to your physician about dosages of these vitamins, because this is a highly individual.

Cholesterol and Heart Disease

This is a must have book.

We all know that heart disease is the #1 killer in North America. It claims the lives of hundreds of thousands of people annually. Doctors are working to fight this deadly disease but recent research has created concerns about how we've been treating it. We now know that the emphasis on lowering cholesterol is all wrong, and has been the entire time!

Facts:

• Cholesterol is harmless and is only a minor player in heart disease.
• Cholesterol levels are a poor predictor of heart attacks.
• Half the people with normal cholesterol have heart disease while half the people with elevated cholesterol have perfectly healthy hearts.
• The true cause of heart disease is inflammation.
• The number one dietary contributor to heart disease is sugar, which is a far greater danger to your heart than fat.
• New studies suggest that statin drugs may be associated with a higher risk for cancer and diabetes.

This book reveals these hard and proven facts about heart disease as well as many more which will cause people everywhere to stand back and take a closer look at our own habits and the steps we take to protect our hearts. Readers will learn that low cholesterol has been linked to depression, aggression, cerebral hemorrhages, and loss of sex drive.

And that the standard prescriptions for lowering our cholesterol and fighting heart disease such as side-effect-causing statin drugs, actually obscure the real causes of heart disease. Even doctors at leading institutions have been misled for years based on creative reporting of research results from pharmaceutical companies intent on supporting the $31-billion-a-year cholesterol-lowering drug industry.

You can listen to both Dr. Sinatra and Dr. Jonny Bowden talk about the book and the research they did in putting it together right here on Total Health Radio. Links below:

THE GREAT CHOLESTEROL MYTH
Why Lowering Your Cholesterol Won't Prevent Heart Disease—and the Statin-Free Plan That Will
by Jonny Bowden, PhD, CMS, Stephen Sinatra, MD, and Recipes by Deidre Rawlings, PhD, ND
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Fair Winds Press; Reprint edition (August 15, 2015)
First Printing: November 2012
ISBN-10: 1592337120
ISBN-13: 978-1592337125

Reveals hard and proven facts about heart disease as well as many more which will cause people everywhere to stand back and take a closer look at our own habits and the steps we take to protect our hearts. Readers will learn that low cholesterol has been linked to depression, aggression, cerebral hemorrhages, and loss of sex drive.

And that the standard prescriptions for lowering our cholesterol and fighting heart disease such as side-effect-causing statin drugs, actually obscure the real causes of heart disease. Even doctors at leading institutions have been misled for years based on creative reporting of research results from pharmaceutical companies intent on supporting the $31-billion-a-year cholesterol-lowering drug industry.

Get proven, evidence-based facts strategies for treating heart disease the right way from the experts with THE GREAT CHOLESTEROL MYTH.

Dear Pharmacist,

I am saddened by the suicide of Robin Williams. I've dealt with depression on and off for years, and I was wondering if you have any natural suggestions for me to ask my doctor about?

Answer: When I hear a person say they've battled depression "on and off" for a long period of time, I ask the question why it is on and off? Something you are eating, doing, or taking is impacting you so much so, that your mood is affected. Hormone imbalances are frequently the problem, especially estrogen and testosterone. Thyroid hormone is my specialty, and if it drops too low, you get depressed. When it moves into a healthy range, you feel happy and content. When I say "normal range" I don't mean the normal reference range indicated on your lab test. My opinion is that the so-called normal range is based upon a sick and hypothyroid population. This may explain why you feel terrible but your levels are "normal." I don't go by labs, I go by clinical presentation.

I adored Robin Williams, he was brilliant, and behind his smiling eyes and hysterical jokes, he battled depression for years. You may feel the same way as you read this today, and I am glad you're still holding on. Depression is one of those conditions that people judge. Here are some reasons for depression that you might explore with the help of your physician:

Hypothyroidism and hypoadrenia—I've mentioned this one already, however, I want you to get a copy of my Thyroid Healthy book so you learn how to test properly. Testing and treatment is the key to your happiness. Also, do not take thyroid medicine until your adrenal glands are strong and healthy. You may need to be supported adaptogenic herbs, a healthy diet, relaxation and other stress reducers.

The Pill—Synthetic hormones for birth control or menopause reduce your body's levels of B vitamins and minerals to the point where you cannot manufacture happy brain chemicals. A reduction in key neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin causes depression. It could be on and off as you describe.

Statins and Binders—We know these drugs reduce CoQ10, but do you realize they crash your ability to activate vitamin D? Ever heard of seasonal affective disorder or SAD? That is often related to low D levels so you might need D if you take cholesterol reducers.

Medications—Drugs mug life-sustaining nutrients. Ibuprofen steals folic acid, and diabetic drugs steal B12. Read my Drug Muggers book for more drug-induced nutrient depletions. If you take medications periodically, then you can't make neurotransmitters, then you deal with that "on and off" situation you describe.

Infections—Last on my list but huge news. Certain infections that we carry in our body can affect the brain. You can have bipolar, depression, insomnia and/or anxiety because of Bartonella, Lyme, syphilis, HIV, fungal infections (and their mycotoxins), herpes and many others. Clearing the infection improves mood better than any prescribed antidepressant.