Heart Failure and Statin Drugs
The type of heart failure you have may determine the effectiveness of a statin medication.
Types of Heart Failure
Systolic heart failure is when the heart does not contract forcefully enough to pump blood out of the aorta and into circulation.
Diastolic heart failure is when the heart does not relax properly to allow an adequate volume of blood to fill the left ventricle.
Statin Drug Treatment and Potential Complications
Statins have anti-inflammatory properties which make them a useful tool in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. However, research from Northeastern University in Boston shows diastolic heart failure does not improve with statin drug use and may actually be harmful.
The problem with statin medications is that they interfere with the production of coenzyme Q10. Coenzyme Q10 is directly involved with the production of cellular energy. Review the post CoQ10 – Do you need his supplement? for a clear explanation of Coenzyme Q10’s role. Interfering with the production of coenzyme Q10 can in itself contribute to heart failure. Heart function relies on cellular energy to fuel the muscle of the heart.
Researchers at Northeastern University and Massachusetts General Hospital reviewed the medical records of 136 patients with heart failure. Out of the 136 patients, about three-quarters were diagnosed with diastolic heart failure and 75 were using statin drugs (mostly Lipitor).
Study results found those with diastolic heart failure taking a stain drug had almost half as much exercise tolerance compared to individuals with diastolic heart failure not taking a statin drug. The research did show slight benefits in patients with systolic heart failure taking statin drugs.
All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
Heart Health Made Easy
http://www.hearthealthmadeeasy.com
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