How statins cause damage

[Brian C.]

I have just finished reading an EXCELLENT book : "Power, Sex, Suicide : Mitochondria and the Meaning of Life" by Nick Lane. I believe I can now understand exactly how statins cause the problems we are suffering.
From what I've gleaned, the mitochondria within each of our cells produce ATP for energy from glucose by the "respiratory chain" occurring in their internal membranes. This involves the passage of electrons. Without ubiquinone/Co Q-10 as a carrier this process is blocked, causing a build-up of electrons which in turn causes leakage of free radicals into the mitochondria resulting in its destruction. If enough of the mitochondria in a cell are destroyed then apoptosis (cell death) will occur.
As we all know statins inhibit our body's production of Q-10.
Lane is skeptical (to say the least) of the efficacy of supplemental Q-10 and antioxidants in preventing apoptosis so the only recourse is to stop taking statins!

I have no background in biology (my school didn't have a biology lab!) so I would ask those readers with such a background to correct my interpretation if necessary. Thanks.

Brian.

[cjbrooksjc]

Brian: Did the author happen to cite any stats at all for recovery prognoses?

Thanks,

Brooks

[Brian C.]

No. The book is a summary of what is known about mitochondria and culminaties in the author's proposal for the proper line of research into longevity and the avoidance of degenerate diseases - which, as you may expect, is NOT the current avenue being taken by Pharma (surprise, surprise).
I have extrapolated from his description of the respiration chain for my attempt at explaining what has happened to us.

Brian.

[cjbrooksjc]

Brian: Sorry, should have included these in my last. The urls below tell how high doses of CoQ10 and exercise can help repair damaged mitochondria; that interests me. They also tell me why I can't stay hydrated and why I gained so much weight.

Don't forget to remove the *s

Mitochondria, briefly:

- Second largest organelle with unique genetic structure
- Double-layered outer membrane with inner folds called cristae
- Energy-producing chemical reactions take place on cristae
- CONTROLS WATER LEVELS and other materials in cell
- Recycles and decomposes proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, and FORMS UREA.

For more info check out the following:

*http://www.healthworks2000.com/Coenzyme%20Q10%20Effective%20for%20Energy%20and%20Fatigue.htm

*http://mdausa.org/publications/Quest/q61coq10.html

Regards,

Brooks

[poohhel]

[quote="cjbrooksjc"]
*http://www.healthworks2000.com/Coenzyme%20Q10%20Effective%20for%20Energy%20and%20Fatigue.htm
*http://mdausa.org/publications/Quest/q61coq10.html
Regards, Brooks[/quote]

Brooks and Brian thanks for the information. I really enjoyed reading these sites and it helped too when trying to get my mom to stop statins... after a couple weeks of proding and research, she finally stopped and talked to her doctor...

[Brian C.]

*http://www.healthworks2000.com/Coenzyme%20Q10%20Effective%20for%20Energy%20and%20Fatigue.htm
-"effects of excessive drug therapy with certain pharmaceuticals"

*http://mdausa.org/publications/Quest/q61coq10.html
- "we have seen an increasing number of patients with very low levels of CoQ10 in the muscle"

Thanks for those link Brooks.
50 years after the discovery of the Q10 molecule and research is STILL lacking - and Q10 is not in any Fomulary.
One lifetime would not be enough for a Nuremburg-type trial of all the guilty parties....

Brian.