What are statins?
Statins are common prescription drugs that lower cholesterol by slowing its production in the liver, which reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Think of your liver as a factory making cholesterol on an assembly line. A statin slows down one key machine on that line. Less cholesterol comes out, but a few other products made on the same line, like CoQ10, slow down too.
Why it matters for aging
Statins block an enzyme, a protein that does one specific job, in the liver's cholesterol production pathway. The liver then pulls more cholesterol out of the blood, which lowers the "bad" LDL cholesterol that builds up in arteries.
The same pathway also produces CoQ10, a molecule mitochondria use to make energy. Statins lower CoQ10 levels in the blood, which is one proposed reason for the muscle aches some people experience, though the evidence on whether CoQ10 supplements help is mixed.
A common myth
Statins are dangerous and most people should avoid them.
For people at high risk of heart disease, statins are among the best-studied drugs for preventing heart attacks and strokes. Some people get side effects like muscle aches, which are worth discussing with a doctor. Never stop a statin without medical advice.
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Updated Nov 9, 2026 · All terms