Diastolic dysfunction, statins, and COQ10

I am a 57 year old female who had quadruple bypass surgery 2 years ago. My recent echo found a grade 1 diastolic dysfunction. An American Journal of Cardiology article(v.94, Nov.15,2004, pp. 1306-1309)by Silver, Langsjoen, et al suggest a possible link of statins (esp. liptor (liptor)) and diastolic dysfunction that may be improved with COQ10 (specifically 300 mg).  I am on zocor (20 mg) and more recently on COQ10 (now 130mg) for muscle soreness.  Do you think statins influence left ventricular diastolic function and if so, how?  Would COQ10 help improve diastolic dysfunction?  If so, how much COQ10 would be appropriate?

[Cleveland Clinic]

gretta,

thanks for the post.

Diastolic dysfunction is a difficult beast.  Advanced levels of levels of diastolic dysfunction are associated with increased mortality, but this is more likely a marker of the disease that leads to the dysfunction.  Stage 1 diastolic dysfunction pretty much has a normal prognosis.  I would recommend continued good control of your blood pressure and other cardiac risk factors.

If you've had bypass surgery, then the benefits of statins will far outweigh any possible impact they have on distolic dysfunction.  I am also very doubtful of a direct link of diastolic fucntion and statin use.  The conection is more likely a result of the underlying condition leading to the use of statins.

The use of COQ10 is also theoretical.  I do not recommned routine use of this supplement for statin side effects.


goos luck

[Gaspipe]

Hi I would not comment on all your question[s] however all that CoEnQ likely will do is give you very expensive urine Good Luck Gaspipe

[0515]

Hello, im posting because im getting very scared, i have pvcs and have had all the checks done ekg, holter monitor echo, all is normal.  My problem now is when i go or get ready to fall asleep i get woken by my heart as if it had stopped and i wake up trying to grasp for air  no pain or anything like that it feels as if i cant catch my breath with my heart feeling as if it wants to stop, this has gone on for a couple of weeks, off and on.  Can anyone or has anyone experienced this.  I have alot of sleepless nites.

[uptowngirl]

I agree with gaspipe and the Dr.  Co-Q 10 did absolutlely nothing for me.  Just my experience.

Uptown

[fanta]

I was diagnosed with Diastolic dysfunction about 3 years ago.  I had all the classic symptoms of CHF:  Shortness of breath and edema etc.  I have been on Lasix and Accupril. However, about six months ago I experienced SOB at rest.  At that time my doctor ran all the usual tests, ekg, holter monitor, and stress test.  He said this to me, "whatever was wrong with your heart has gone away", yet I am to continue taking my meds.  I am very confused.  Does Diastolic dysfunction just go away?  and if so why am I still having to continue taking the meds.  Also, if I don't take them, I will get edema and SOB.  Can anyone comment please.    Thanks,

[MinnieM]

Hi Fanta,  I am not much help here but how were you diagnosed with diatolic dysfunction?  I too have all the symptoms of CHF and at various times of the year, my feel an dlower legs look like elephants.  I also get SOB and wheeze. I have had 3 stents placed though and was told I am good to go but I know i am not good to go.  In the past 2 week I had two stress echo's at 2 different heart centers. Questionable things on both but EF fraction is good but a question at cardiac rehab was asked of me by an RN?  "Do you have diastolic sysfunction"  What is this?

Thanks so much.  P.S. Do you take anything for SOB like an Inhaler?

[knicks30]

Just asking gaspipe and uptowngirl.

How do you know the COQ10 didn't work for you? I mean im not trying to bite your head here just asking how you knew it didn't work. I mean it's not like "hey im taking this vitamin, im going to become Superman" just asking here id really like to know because i have been doing alot of reasearch on this antioxidant known as COQ10

[fanta]

Hi Minnie,
Thank you for your response.  I was diagnosed with diastolic dysfunction after having had stress test, echocardiogram, electrocardiogram and also a cardiac catheterization three years ago.  I don't know from which of the tests the diagnosis was determined.  I would like to add that the heart center where I went to has like three different doctors.  The first doctor that saw me and performed the tests gave me the diagnosis.  The doctor that did the tests the second time was not the same one.  (the one that told me, "whatever was wrong with your heart went away.)  That is why I am so confused.  I too get swollen ankles and swollen legs if I stop the meds.  My guess is that Diastolic dysfunction is a form of cardiomyopathy which is a form of congestive heart failure, I think.  Where there is something wrong with the heart muscle.  Maybe somebody else can elighten us on that.  Hope to hear from someebody else with more feedback.  Thanks fanta

[Gaspipe]

Hi first of all I tried it for a good while{CoenQ} and as the Doc said and all I have read there are not well controlled studies done by appropriate sources that show it will do anything they claim. Supplement companies are notorius for citing some study done in Holland or someplace 20 years ago as claims that these supplements work.   It's an unregulated industry that unlike pharmacutical companies do not have to go through the many phases of trials to show their drugs preform as they claim.So it's buyer beware so if you wish to buy this very expensive wonder drug  it's obviously your choice. Good luck Gaspipe

[Famulus]

This is a website with numerous valid studies that show that CoQ10 is effective for heart disease:

http://www2.umdnj.edu/~shindler/coq10.html

I was having about 30 episodes of arrhythmia daily and since starting 100mg/da CoQ10, and 1000mg/da Vitamin C, I am now down to about 3 episodes a day and I'm finally able to sleep through a night.

Just before this, I had been on Lipitor for about a month and had to stop due to muscle pain - my cholesterol wasn't that high to begin with, and it was safe to stop statins altogether after 1 month on them - but I will keep on CoQ10 + Vit C.