Efficiency of hepatocyte pretreatment with coenzyme Q(10) against statin toxicity

Abstract

Statins are potent cholesterol-lowering drugs that can have serious adverse effects on the muscles and liver. The aim of our in vitro study was to establish the protective effect of coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10), in its optimal dose of 200 mu mol L-1) against cytotoxicity induced by atorvastatin, simvastatin, and lovastatin in isolated rat hepatocytes by observing parameters such as cell death, reactive oxygen species formation, lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial membrane potential, and cellular reduced and oxidised glutathione content. Our findings have shown that pretreatment with CoQ(10) was effective in reducing the toxic effects of statins in rat hepatocytes. This work demonstrates that the addition of CoQ(10) to statin treatment regimens may protect hepatocytes (and also other types of cells) from statin-induced injuries and alleviate their side effects.