A very frequently prescribed medication against atherosclerosis is statins (cholesterol-lowering drugs). These very effectively inhibit the body's own production of cholesterol.
It is well known that statins have frequent and strong side effects. Muscle pain and muscle weakness, increased blood sugar, dyspepsia (flatulence), headaches and liver dysfunction are among the symptoms.
This makes sense when you consider the effects of statins. They not only block cholesterol, but also a number of other secondary products (on the mevalonate metabolic pathway). In particular they are the CoenzymeQ10, muscle protein, vitamin K2 and steroid hormones.
For this reason, CoenzymeQ10 with statins is already regularly prescribed in the USA. This means the side effects, namely the lower energy production in all cells due to less CoenzymeQ10 - but not the effect on the muscle protein.
But there is a simple alternative:Geranylgeraniol(GG). This is the intermediate product inhibited by statins, which is needed for the mentioned coenzyme Q10, muscle protein, vitamin K2, and sex hormones. You can eat it straight away.
The following foods contain up to 1 mg per 100 g: Green leafy vegetables (spinach, kale, rocket), avocado, almonds and nuts, olive oil, sesame seeds, broccoli, carrots, pumpkin, sunflower seeds, tomatoes, oranges and citrus fruits, soy products. This is quite low, as the daily requirement is estimated at 150 mg and no one can eat 10 kg of spinach a day. However, there have recently been nutritional supplements with which 150 mg can easily be taken directly.
A similar connection also exists for bisphosphonates (osteoporosis drugs). These also block the mevalonate pathway (at the same point). That's why I'm creating very similar articles about bisphosphonates.
Short summary:
Anyone who takes statins (cholesterol-lowering drugs) should at least substitute CoenzymQ10 or better GG (geranylgeraniol).