Diagnose-Me: About Cholesterol-Lowering Drug Use


	Question Category: SUPPLEMENTS AND MEDICATIONS

In the 'Supplements And Medications' section of our in-depth questionnaire we ask the following question about cholesterol-lowering drug use:

Have you used cholesterol-lowering drugs?

	Your answer	...indicates	...and suggests
1.	"No / don't know"
2.	"Short-term use in the past only"	Past cholesterol-lowering drug use	A risk factor
3.	"Long-term use in the past only"	Past cholesterol-lowering drug use	A risk factor
4.	"Currently using for 6 months or less"	Cholesterol-lowering drug use	A risk factor
5.	"Currently using for over 6 months"	Cholesterol-lowering drug use	A risk factor

Your answer will affect the likelihoods of the conditions below. Any answers in green reduce the likelihood of the condition.

Answers					Condition	Comment
			4	5	High Total Cholesterol	--
	2	3	4	5	Low Pregnenolone Level	--
	2	3	4	5	Vitamin CoQ10 Need	HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors ("statin" drugs) used to treat elevated blood cholesterol levels by blocking cholesterol synthesis also block CoQ10 synthesis. The resulting lowering of blood CoQ10 level is due to the partially shared biosynthetic pathway of CoQ10 and cholesterol.

GLOSSARY

Cholesterol
A waxy, fat-like substance manufactured in the liver and found in all tissues, it facilitates the transport and absorption of fatty acids. In foods, only animal products contain cholesterol. An excess of cholesterol in the bloodstream can contribute to the development of atherosclerosis.

Statins (Statin)
A class of drugs that lower cholesterol.

Last updated: May 10, 2007