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Drug Nutrient Depletion Guide

Statins: What It Depletes and How to Replenish

Statins (Lipitor, Crestor, Zocor, Pravachol) is associated with clinically documented depletion of 2 key nutrients. Below you'll find the mechanism, clinical evidence, and evidence-based replenishment protocols for each.

This page is educational content based on published clinical trials. All supplement recommendations should be discussed with your prescribing physician before implementation. Evidence ratings follow the same RCT-first methodology used across the full Evidence Based Longevity database.
2 Documented Depletions · RCT Evidence
1
CoQ10 (Ubiquinol)
Critical Depletion Risk
How It Depletes

Statins inhibit the mevalonate pathway, which produces both cholesterol AND CoQ10. Every statin depletes CoQ10 — proportional to dose.

Clinical Evidence

Folkers et al. (1990); Rundek et al. (2004) — measurable CoQ10 depletion in 100% of statin users

Symptoms of Deficiency

Muscle pain (myalgia), fatigue, weakness, exercise intolerance

Evidence-Based Replenishment

Ubiquinol 200–400mg daily. Use ubiquinol (active form) not ubiquinone — over age 40 conversion is impaired.

View on Fullscript: Life Extension Super Ubiquinol CoQ10

Discuss with your physician before adjusting supplementation. This is educational content, not medical advice.

2
Vitamin D3
Moderate Depletion Risk
How It Depletes

Statins reduce cholesterol, the precursor to Vitamin D synthesis in skin. Long-term statin use is independently associated with lower 25(OH)D levels.

Clinical Evidence

Pérez-Castrillón et al. (2010) — statin users show significantly lower Vitamin D vs. matched controls

Symptoms of Deficiency

Fatigue, bone loss, immune suppression, muscle weakness

Evidence-Based Replenishment

Test 25(OH)D. Supplement 2,000–5,000 IU D3 + K2 daily to maintain 50–80 ng/mL.

View on Fullscript: Thorne Vitamin D/K2 Liquid

Discuss with your physician before adjusting supplementation. This is educational content, not medical advice.

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