Vitamin C - God's Perfect Statin (without the negative side-effects)

Statin drugs inhibit the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase.    This enzyme catalyzes the body's manufacture of (1) cholesterol and (2) CoQ10

Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) provides the human body a naturally controlled HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (i.e. statin) :

• When vitamin C levels are low.  The body compensates and triggers  HMG-CoA reductase activity ▲ to manufacture more cholesterol and ensure an adequate supply of “patch” material for arterial wall repairs; Also, more HMG-CoA reductase is available for CoQ10 production:

   HMG-CoA reductase▲   ==►  CoQ10 production ▲

   HMG-CoA reductase▲   ==►  Cholesterol production ▲

• When vitamin C  levels are high.   HMG-CoA reductase activity is inhibited ▼, lowering cholesterol levels and CoQ10 production:

    HMG-CoA reductase▼  ==►  CoQ10 production▼

    HMG-CoA reductase▼  ==►  Cholesterol production▼

A significant difference between Vitamin C and statins is that Vitamin C modulates/ controls CoQ10 production, whereas statins only inhibit its production

Sufficient (but not too high) Vitamin C actually promotes the production of HMG-CoA reductase and thus CoQ10.

CoQ10 is depleted when LDL cholesterol is oxidized during the plaque forming process.

Harwood HJ et al, 1986, Inhibition of human leukocyte 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase activity by ascorbic acid. An effect mediated by the free radical monodehydroascorbate