Nature Made. Rx Essentials™ Daily Supplement — Tailored to Your Prescription

Taking prescription medications for high cholesterol

Through extensive research, Nature Made science experts have identified essential nutrients helpful when taking statin cholesterol medications such as Lipitor®, Zocor®, or Pravachol®.

CoQ10

Several human clinical studies, including one published in the American Journal of Cardiology,1 have shown that some people taking statin drugs such as Lipitor®, Zocor® and Pravachol® have lower blood levels of CoQ10, an antioxidant and an important nutrient to heart health.

CoQ10 is a coenzyme that appears throughout the body, but is most concentrated in organs with the highest energy needs, such as the heart. CoQ10:

  • Helps the human body convert food fuel into energy
  • Acts as an antioxidant, protecting the body against the effect of free radicals, which can damage healthy cells

Statin medications work by slowing or stopping the action of an enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase, which is used by the liver to make cholesterol. This process may also reduce the body's production of CoQ10. Supplementing with CoQ10 may replenish this key nutrient.

Folic acid, B6, and B12

Vitamins B6 and B12 and folic acid are important to bone and heart health, making and maintaining healthy red blood cells, and keeping the nervous system in good shape.

In particular, B vitamins help keep down the levels of homocysteine, an amino acid, in the blood. Some studies indicate that elevated levels of homocysteine may affect heart health, so supplementing with vitamins B6, B12, and folic acid to reduce homocysteine levels may be important to maintaining a healthy heart.2

Besides lowering homocysteine levels, folic acid is also essential to cell division, DNA synthesis, the development of the fetal nervous system, and the manufacture of brain chemicals, or neurotransmitters.

Vitamins B6 and B12 are also essential to body health in other ways. B12, in particular, is needed to make red blood cells, which take oxygen to and remove waste from other cells. Adequate B12 is important to maintaining emotional well being and a healthy nervous system.

  • Lipitor® is a registered trademark of Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals
  • Zocor® is a registered trademark of Merck & Co.
  • Pravachol® is a registered trademark of E.R. Squibb & Sons, Inc.

1Effect of Atorvastatin on Left Ventricular Function and Ability of Coenzyme Q10 to Reverse That Dysfunction, American Journal of Cardiology, 2004

Langsjoen PH, et al The clinical use of HMG CoA-reductase inhibitors and the associated depletion of coenzyme Q10. A review of animal and human publications. Biofactors. 2003;18(1-4):101-11

2Schnyder G, et al. Effect of homocysteine-lowering therapy with folic acid, vitamin B12, and vitamin B6 on clinical outcome after percutaneous coronary intervention: the Swiss Heart study: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2002 Aug 28;288(8): 973-9.

Quinlivan EP, et al Importance of both folic acid and vitamin B12 in reduction of risk of vascular disease. Lancet. 2002 Jan 19;359(9302):227-8.