A most ironic situation occurs with the cholesterol lowering drug Mevacor or lovastatin. This drug is given to lower LDL cholesterol levels in order to reduce risks of a heart attack. However, this drug clearly lowers CoQ10 levels in the tissues, thus increasing risk for heart disease. Certainly, anyone taking Mevacor or similar type drugs should be on a significant dosage of CoQ10. Similarly, the beta blockers, drugs that are used extensively to treat heart disease, high blood pressure and other conditions, also deplete the heart and other tissues of CoQ10. Unfortunately, most cardiologists and other conventional physicians in the United States are unaware of this fact and do not give patients on these drugs supplements of CoQ10.

Benefits in Periodontal Disease, Immune Disorders, Cancer and Other Conditions
Toxicity studies in animals has not shown any adverse side effects, even at dosages many times greater than those used in clinical studies. Also, there is no evidence for fetal abnormalities, distress to the mother during pregnancy or soon after birth. There is no evidence of any significant risks to humans taking CoQ10. As long as it has been carefully and rigorously purified, it appears to be safe as a nutritional supplement. As a daily supplement to the diet, CoQ10 requires about four to eight weeks to build up to peak concentration in the body and it often takes several weeks of daily administration to accomplish effects that are noticeable.

Periodontal or gum disease is very common in the United States and other Western countries. Plaque-forming bacteria that live in the mouth appear to be an important trigger for the disease, which manifests as inflamed gum tissue that may eventually result in the loss of teeth, as the teeth become loose in their bony sockets. Healing and repair of periodontal tissues requires efficient energy production, which as we have seen, required sufficient amounts of CoQ10. As early as 1971, Dr. Folkers reported that gum tissue taken from patients with periodontal disease was often deficient in CoQ10. In 1973, Dr. Folkers and Dr. Matsumura completed a double-blind study using CoQ10 for periodontal disease. They reported that it was superior to the then treatment of choice for periodontal disease. Dr. Wilkinson reported in the late 70's that at dosages of 50 to 75 mg per day often halted the deterioration of the gums with healing sometimes occurring within days. As of 1988, a total of 9 clinical studies involving 304 patients have confirmed many experimental studies with animals. CoQ10 can effectively reverse gum disease.