Effects of Epicatechin on Statins for Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Impaired Exercise Capacity

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2021-07-28
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

The purpose of this study is to gain insight into the side-effects of statin consumption, and assess the ability of epicatechin (a compound in dark chocolate) to counteract or reverse these changes. The investigators' prior research has shown that epicatechin can improve skeletal muscle structure and mitochondrial (which gives us energy) structure.

• Phase: N/A
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Details

• Lead Sponsor: University of California, San Diego
• Collaborator: American Heart Association
• Treatments: Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Simvastatin

Criteria

Patient Inclusion Criteria:

• Must be between 30-75 years of age

• LDL>100mg/dL (or on drug treatment)

• VO2 max greater than 25 ml/kg/min

Patient Exclusion Criteria:

• Liver or kidney disease

• Currently taking drugs that interfere with statin metabolism

• Currently taking blood thinners

• Acute or chronic infectious disease; autoimmune/inflammatory disease, cancer, COPD, anemia, psychiatric illness, insulin-dependent diabetes

• smokers or illicit drug users

• adverse cardiovascular event (ex: heart attack)

• history of knee surgery or active history of knee pain