The DOI matches its Crossref record; 23 of the 23 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Evidence of Plasma CoQ10‐Lowering Effect by HMG‐CoA Reductase Inhibitors: A Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled Study
Abstract
Inhibitors of HMG‐CoA reductase are new safe and effective cholesterol‐lowering agents. Elevation of alanine‐amino transferase (ALT) and aspartate‐amino transferase (AST) has been described in a few cases and a myopathy with elevation of creatinine kinase (CK) has been reported rarely. The inhibition of HMG‐CoA reductase affects also the biosynthesis of ubiquinone (CoQ10). We studied two groups of five healthy volunteers treated with 20 mg/day of pravastatin (Squibb, Italy) or simvastatin (MSD) for a month. Then we treated 30 hypercholesterolemic patients in a double‐blind controlled study with pravastatin, simvastatin (20 mg/day), or placebo for 3 months. At the beginning, and 3 months thereafter we measured plasma total cholesterol, CoQ10, ALT, AST, CK, and other parameters (urea, creatinine, uric acid, total bilirubin, gamma GT, total protein). Significant changes in the healthy volunteer group were detected for total cholesterol and CoQ10 levels, which underwent about a 40% reduction after the treatment. The same extent of reduction, compared with placebo was measured in hypercholesterolemic patients treated with pravastatin or simvastatin. Our data show that the treatment with HMG‐CoA reductase inhibitors lowers both total cholesterol and CoQ10 plasma levels in normal volunteers and in hypercholesterolemic patients. CoQ10 is essential for the production of energy and also has antioxidative properties. A diminution of CoQ10 availability may be the cause of membrane alteration with consequent cellular damage.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“Consistent with previous reports ( 44,46,47 ), CoQ 10 was the more abundant of the two ubiquinones, making up 94% of the total plasma CoQ.”
From Lipidomics reveals a remarkable diversity of lipids in human plasma (2010) · cites this paper as [47]
In the citing paper
“Because the biosynthesis of CoQ is dependent upon the availability of farnesyl pyrophosphate produced by the mevalonate pathway, inhibition of the rate-limiting enzyme in this pathway, HMG-CoA reductase, by the cholesterol lowering statin drugs may lead to reductions in serum CoQ levels ( 46,47 ).”
From Lipidomics reveals a remarkable diversity of lipids in human plasma (2010) · cites this paper as [47]
In the citing paper
“slightly higher than previously published values ( 43,47,48 ).”
From Lipidomics reveals a remarkable diversity of lipids in human plasma (2010) · cites this paper as [47]
In the citing paper
“Evidence also exists for reduced CoQ in plasma of humans with diabetes (113).”
From Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Diabetes: From Molecular Mechanisms to Functional Significance and Therapeutic Opportunities (2010) · cites this paper as [113]
Citations
Cites
Helsinki Heart Study: Primary-Prevention Trial with Gemfibrozil in Middle-Aged Men with Dyslipidemia
Frick, M. H., Elo, O., Haapa, K., Heinonen, O. P., Heinsalmi, P., Helo, P., Huttunen, J. K., Kaitaniemi, P., Koskinen, P., Manninen, V., et al. (1987) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejm198711123172001 · Cited by 3,881
Goodman, D. S. (1988) · Archives of Internal Medicine · doi:10.1001/archinte.1988.00380010040006 · Cited by 2,458
ML-236A, ML-236B, and ML-236C, new inhibitors of cholesterogensis produced by Penicillium citrinum.
Endo, A., KURODA, M., & Tsujita, Y. (1976) · The Journal of Antibiotics · doi:10.7164/antibiotics.29.1346 · Cited by 954
Ubiquinol-10 is an effective lipid-soluble antioxidant at physiological concentrations.
Frei, B. B., Kim, M. C., & Ames, B. N. (1990) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.87.12.4879 · Cited by 623
Muscle coenzyme Q deficiency in familial mitochondrial encephalomyopathy.
Ogasahara, S., Engel, A. G., Frens, D. B., & Mack, D. (1989) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.86.7.2379 · Cited by 365
Rhabdomyolysis in Patients Receiving Lovastatin after Cardiac Transplantation
East, C., Alivizatos, P. A., Grundy, S. M., Jones, P. H., & Farmer, J. A. (1988) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejm198801073180111 · Cited by 291
Mabuchi, H., Haba, T., Tatami, R., Miyamoto, S., Sakai, Y., Wakasugi, T., Watanabe, A., Koizumi, J., & Takeda, R. (1981) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejm198108273050902 · Cited by 262
Myolysis and Acute Renal Failure in a Heart-Transplant Recipient Receiving Lovastatin
Norman, D. J., Illingworth, D. R., Munson, J. L., & Hosenpud, J. D. (1988) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejm198801073180110 · Cited by 255
Rhabdomyolysis and Renal Injury With Lovastatin Use
Corpier, C. L. (1988) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.260.2.239 · Cited by 236
The participation of coenzyme Q in free radical production and antioxidation
Beyer, R. E. (1990) · Free Radical Biology and Medicine · doi:10.1016/0891-5849(90)90154-b · Cited by 209
Research works printed but not linked: 9
- Lipid Research Clinics Program, 1984, The lipid research clinics coronary primary prevention trial I. Reduction in incidence of coronary heart disease, JAMA, 25, 31
- Stamler J, 1984, Is relationship between serum cholesterol and risk of premature death from coronary heart disease continous and graded, JAMA, 251, 365
- Brown MS, 1980, Multivalent feedback regulation of HMG‐CoA reductase, a control mechanism coordinating isoprenoid syntesis and cell growth, J Lipid Res, 319, 24
- Crane FL, 1984, Biomedical and Clinical Aspect of Coenzyme Q.
- Kobayashi M, 1980, Structural effects of ubiquinones on the mitochondrial inner membrane, J Appl Biochem, 2, 270
- Beyer RE, 1987, The function of Coenzyme Q in free radical production and as an antioxidant: a review, Chemica Scripta, 27, 145
- Mortensen A, 1986, Biomedical Aspects of Coenzyme Q., 39
- Frustaci A, 1986, Biomedical Aspects of Coenzyme Q., 157
- Beyer RE, 1990, Highlights in Ubiquinone Research., 191
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 301–322 of 322
Rabdomiolisi traumatica e non traumatica
Renard, A., Cazes, N., Barberis, C., & Puidupin, A. (2017) · EMC - Urgenze · doi:10.1016/s1286-9341(16)81822-0
Statin Induced Dysuria- A Case Report
Soanker, R., Jyothi, A., & ram, S. (2016) · Indian Journal of Cardiovascular Disease in Women · doi:10.1055/s-0038-1656392
Altıntaş, B., Baysal, E., Altındağ, R., & Bilge, Ö. (2018) · Kocaeli Medical Journal · doi:10.5505/ktd.2018.40469
Karaüzüm, K., & Karaüzüm, İ. (2019) · Kocaeli Medical Journal · doi:10.5505/ktd.2019.54926
Statins and physical activity in human
Gawędzka, A., Knapik-Czajka, M. E., & Drąg, J. (2018) · Farmacja Polska · doi:10.32383/farmpol/118635
Plotnikoff, G. A., & Dusek, J. A. (2017) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-35868-2.00024-4
Coenzyme Q10 supplementation in aging
López‐Lluch, G., & Navas, P. (2020) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-818698-5.00018-3
Simvastatin-induced myositis occurring in a patient with viral hepatitis A
Hull, H. R. I. A. R., Shukla, S., & Anand, V. (2004) · Acute Medicine Journal · doi:10.52964/amja.0081
The Effect of morelloflavone on HMG-CoA reductase activity
Tuansulong, K. (2009) · PSU Knowledge Bank (Prince of Songkla University)
Greenfield, R. H. (2007) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-1-4160-2954-0.50031-4
Plotnikoff, G. A., & Dusek, J. A. (2012) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-1-4377-1793-8.00023-6
Anker, S. D., & von Haehling, S. (2005) · CRC Press eBooks · doi:10.1201/9781420048957.ch24
Consequences of Cardiovascular Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletion
LaValle, J. B. (2015) · CRC Press eBooks · doi:10.1201/b18282-17
Greenfield, R. H. (2012) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-1-4377-1793-8.00024-8
Cho, K., Nam, H.-S., Kim, N.-Y., Lee, M.-S., & Kang, D.-J. (2023) · Preprints.org · doi:10.20944/preprints202311.1199.v1
Rabdomiolisi traumatiche e non traumatiche
Goudy, P., & Geeraerts, T. (2024) · EMC - Anestesia-Rianimazione · doi:10.1016/s1283-0771(24)49336-5
Zechner, J., Britza, S. M., Farrington, R., Byard, R. W., & Musgrave, I. (2025) · Pharmacological Research - Natural Products · doi:10.1016/j.prenap.2025.100209
Skeletal muscle toxicity and statins : role of mitochondrial adaptations
Singh, F. (2016) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/362675f3z0a19z46f5z977az009dcec8ed40
Co-enzyme Q10 in Diabetic Neuropathy: Mechanisms of Action and Clinical Evidence
Devhare, L., Kumar, Y. G., Priya, S., Verma, A., Dubey, M., & Aparna, T. N. (2026) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-95-9326-2_16
Sayed, N. F. E., Awad, A. S., Fawzy, I. M., Mahmoud, H. M., & El-Abhar, H. S. (2026) · Future Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences · doi:10.1186/s43094-026-00987-8
Metadata
- Authors
- Ghirlanda, G., Oradei, A., Manto, A., Lippa, S., Uccioli, L., Caputo, S., Greco, A. V., & Littarru, G. P.
- Affiliations
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (IT)
- Corresponding author
- Ghirlanda, G.
- Venue
- The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 1993-03
- Volume
- 33
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 226-229
- ISSN
- 0021-9754 (ISSN-L)
- 0091-2700
- 1552-4604
- OpenAlex
- W1964874366
- Cited by
- 324
- References
- 23
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 16
- FWCI
- 1.55
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Coenzyme Q10 studies and effects
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Lipoproteins and Cardiovascular Health
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biochemistry › Cholesterol and Lipid Metabolism
- Keywords
- statins, coenzyme Q10, pravastatin, simvastatin, hypercholesterolemia, serum cholesterol, statin adverse effects, creatine kinase, liver enzymes, myopathy
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Cholesterol, Double-Blind Method, Female, Humans, Hypercholesterolemia, Lipids, Lovastatin, Male, Middle Aged, Ubiquinone, Pravastatin, Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors, Simvastatin
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
