In vivo intensification of free-radical oxidation of low-density lipoproteins in the plasma of patients with coronary heart disease treated with β-hydroxy-β-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor pravastatin and inhibition of lipid peroxidation with ubiquinone Q10

Abstract

Pravastatin, an inhibitor of β-hydroxy-β-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, the key enzyme of cholesterol biosynthesis,in vivo elevated the content of primary and secondary products of free-radical oxidation in low-density lipoproteins in patients with coronary heart disease, while combined treatment with pravastatin and ubiquinone Q10 sharply decreased this parameter. Ubiquinone Q10 prevented pravastatin-induced inhibition of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and lipid peroxidase utilizing reactive oxygen species in the blood. These data indicate that ubiquinone Q10 would be appropriate for use in combination with statins, inhibitors of β-hydroxy-β-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, for the therapy of patients with coronary heart disease.