Statin Side Effects & Gut Health: A Holistic Look at the Research

If you have a gut feeling about your statin side effects, you might be onto something! Your gut may play a bigger role in how your body handles statins than you think. That’s because statins and your gut microbiome influence each other in powerful ways. Statins can also affect your hormones and nutrient levels. We talk about the science behind this, what you should be on the lookout for, and holistic ways to reduce your risk and feel healthy based on clinical experience from leading experts.

Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only. Please discuss your health concerns with your care provider and consult them before taking any supplements to avoid disease and drug interactions. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting, changing, or stopping any medication or supplement.

Looking for the ultimate heart support stack? Don’t miss out on our Super Heart Support Bundle with probiotics, prebiotics, CoQ10, vitamins D3/K2, and digestive enzymes. 

Key Takeaways

• Statins work by blocking the liver enzyme that makes cholesterol
• Statins can cause muscle pain, fatigue, digestive issues, and other side effects
• Long-term statin use may lower CoQ10, creatine, vitamin K2, and vitamin E levels, affecting energy, muscle, and bone health
• Statins can reduce the production of sex and adrenal hormones, affecting reproductive and sexual health in both men and women 
• Deficiencies in vitamin D, creatine, and CoQ10 can increase the risk of statin muscle side effects
• Some statins may influence mood, memory, and sleep by altering brain cholesterol
• Statins can disrupt the gut microbiome, sometimes causing dysbiosis 
• Your gut health and gut microbiome may impact your risk of statin side effects
• A nutrient-rich diet, targeted supplements, and probiotics may help replete nutrients and support the gut microbiome to reduce the risk of statin side effects and improve overall health

How Statins Work and Affect Your Body

If you’re taking statins or were told you’ll need them if lifestyle changes don't lower your cholesterol enough, you’re probably worried about what statins will do to your body. Up to 70% of people stop taking statins within the first year of taking them, and side effects may be the main reason (Ageeb et al., 2024; Dimmitt et al., 2015). 

How do statins work,how bad are the side effects, and how do statins affect your nutrient levels and gut health? 

Statins are among the most prescribed medications in the U.S. and Canada. One fourth of U.S. adults over 45 years of age use statins, with numbers being higher among the elderly (Chen et al., 2024; Hennessy et al., 2016; London et al., 2020). 

"Statins are widely prescribed to manage cholesterol and reduce cardiovascular risk, but patient responses and side effects vary significantly." explains Dr. Hariom Yadav, PhD, FGSA, the Director of the Center for Microbiome Research, Microbiomes Institute at the University of South Florida (USF). A world-renowned expert on the gut-brain connection, Dr. Yadav specializes in neurosurgery, brain repair, and the science of the microbiome.

"Emerging research shows that the gut microbiome both influences statin metabolism and can be altered by statin therapy. Understanding this bidirectional relationship is critical because it may explain why some patients experience side effects such as muscle pain or gastrointestinal disturbances, and why statin efficacy differs between individuals. By considering the gut microbiome, we may improve both the safety and effectiveness of statin therapy, guiding personalized treatments," Dr. Yadav adds.

In this article, we’ll cover the typical side effects and then tie them into the underlying effects of statins on your cellular health and gut microbiome from a holistic health perspective. 

What Do Statins Do to Your Body?

Statins work by blocking an enzyme that produces cholesterol in the liver. This enzyme is quite a mouthful, it’s called hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase enzyme—HMG-CoA for short. This way, statins lower your (Sizar et al., 2025):

• Total cholesterol
• Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)—the “bad” cholesterol, and 
• Triglycerides

By blocking the liver’s production of cholesterol, statins prompt it to remove more LDL from your bloodstream. In turn, lower blood LDL levels help prevent the buildup of fatty deposits (plaque) inside your arteries. This reduces your risk of heart attack and stroke (Sizar et al., 2025). 

Beside lowering cholesterol, statins also have some anti-inflammatory effects and may help stabilize existing plaques, making them less likely to rupture. Yet, they can also cause side effects like muscle pain, fatigue, or changes in liver enzymes (Sizar et al., 2025).

Statins can also affect your production of hormones, your vitamin and mineral levels, and your gut microbiome (London et al., 2020; Tan & Li, 2024; She et al., 2024). 

People who are at a very high risk of heart disease often need high statin doses or multiple statins. People who don’t have serious risk factors but just slightly or moderately high cholesterol may do well with low doses or trying lifestyle modifications and dietary supplements first (Sizar et al., 2025).

Statins Plus Lifestyle Changes = Healthy Life

Statins are not a replacement for making dietary and lifestyle changes. Rather, statins work best in addition to behavioral counseling and making healthier lifestyle choices (Peng et al., 2024). 

Turning your life around to improve your diet and daily routine is powerful. In fact, a recent analysis found that behavioral counseling around healthier lifestyle choices was as effective as statins at lowering cholesterol! However, making dramatic changes to your lifestyle is hard, and it can be expensive to get regular counseling (Gandjour, 2025). 

For some people, making lifestyle adjustments is not enough, and statins may be necessary. Having a discussion with your healthcare provider about the best options for you based on your labs and readiness to make lifestyle changes is key.  

What to Know Before and During Statin Treatment

If you’re currently on statins or starting soon, here are some steps to help you feel informed:

• Inform yourself or get counseling around healthy lifestyle changes
• Stick to your prescribed statin dosage
• Review common and less common side effects
• Report any side effects to your healthcare provider 
• Find an integrative provider that will monitor your levels of important labs and nutrients
• Consider adding targeted dietary supplements and probiotics to support nutrient levels, gut microbiome balance, and overall well-being 

Statin Side Effects

Common and Less Common Side Effects

The most common side effects of statins include (Hussain et al., 2023):

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Muscle pain 
• Fatigue 
• Feeling weak 
• Digestive problems like constipation, diarrhoea, indigestion, and bloating
• Sleep problems
• Low blood platelet count

Less common statin side effects include (Hussain et al., 2023, NHS):

• Muscle and skeletal damage and inflammation
• Increased blood sugar or diabetes 
• Changes in liver enzymes
• Liver damage, inflammation, and/or dysfunction
• Pancreas inflammation
• Memory problems
• Mood changes
• Skin problems like acne
• Sexual problems like low libido or erectile dysfunction
• Loss of sensation or tingling in the nerve endings of the hands and feet (peripheral neuropathy)
• Tendon problems

Many of these side effects, like developing diabetes or liver dysfunction are dose-dependent. This means that the higher the statin dose, the more likely it is to happen  (Hussain et al., 2023).

Also, many side effects are reversible upon stopping statins, including liver dysfunction. Some side effects, however, like muscle pain and inflammation, sometimes don’t fully resolve after stopping these medications (Hussain et al., 2023).

Statin side effects are rarely serious, but they can impact your quality of life. If you experience side effects, talk to your doctor. They may suggest changing your statin dosage, adding certain supplements, switching to another statin or medication, or stopping statin treatment. 

Integrative Health Perspective

Beyond their well-known side effects, statins may also have more subtle effects on your gut microbiome, mitochondria, and nutrient uptake—three factors that have a major influence on your energy metabolism and overall health. 

Statin therapy can lead to (Hussain et al., 2023; Tan & Yi, 2024):

• Gut microbiome changes
• Mitochondrial dysfunction
• Low CoQ10 levels
• Low creatine production 
• Low vitamin K2 levels 
• Possibly lower blood levels of fat-soluble vitamins (like vitamin A, D, and E)
• Possibly lower blood levels of trace minerals (like selenium, copper, and zinc)
• Lower production of sex hormones and adrenal hormones 

This is where working with an integrative health practitioner can make a big difference. They can help track and prevent nutrient deficiencies and gut dysbiosis while you are taking statins, helping you achieve better overall health.

How Statins Affect Your Mitochondria, Gut Microbiome, Hormones & Nutrient Levels 

CoQ10 and Your Mitochondria

By blocking CoQ10 production, statins can deprive cells of this critical nutrient for your mitochondria. Every cell in your body relies on mitochondria for energy production, but your heart and muscles need it the most. Low CoQ10 makes it more likely to experience muscular side effects from statins (Csengo et al., 2024). 

Many naturopaths and some conventional doctors recommend CoQ10 supplementation alongside statins. Studies show that CoQ10 may help reduce statin side effects like muscle pain by replenishing CoQ10 levels. One analysis of 800 patients found that CoQ10 supplementation reduced statin-induced muscle pain without notable side effects (Ahmad et al., 2024). 

However, CoQ10 doesn’t work for everyone. It had no effects on statin-induced muscle pain in other studies, possibly due to low doses or the fact that CoQ10 may not help in people who are not deficient in it (Chen et al., 2022; Zaleski et al., 2018). 

How much CoQ10 should I take with atorvastatin?

Clinical studies on statin-related muscle pain have used CoQ10 dosages ranging from 100 mg to 600 mg per day (Keller, 2015; Ahmad et al., 2024; Chen et al., 2022). 

In one study looking at atorvastatin users specifically, 200 mg/day of CoQ10 was used (Yasser et al., 2021). 

This is in line with what most doctors recommend: 200 mg/day of CoQ10 at bedtime (Zaleski et al., 2018). 

We know that the body needs at least 500 mg of CoQ10 per day to replenish its stores, and perhaps more in statin users (Keller, 2015). Based on this, some doctors may recommend CoQ10 dosages of 300 mg/day or higher. 

Yet, it’s important not to rely only on supplements for your daily CoQ10 needs. 

Fun fact: the food with the highest concentration of CoQ10 was found to be reindeer meat! But unless you’re living in the ice-cold region of the Arctic and hunting reindeer, you can try to get more CoQ10 in your diet from foods like (Saini, 2011; Pravst et al., 2010; Campisi et al., 2022):

• Oily fish (such as salmon and tuna)
• Organ meats (such as liver)
• Whole grains
• Nuts
• Soybeans (but not processed soy products like tofu)
• Parsley and spinach

If you do take CoQ10 supplements, it’s important to take them smartly. Taking your CoQ10 along with dietary fats and oils can improve its absorption (Saini, 2011). 

Carnitine can be added to CoQ10 to help with muscle side effects (Cheung et al., 2023). 

As a supplement, CoQ10 is available in two forms: ubiquinol and ubiquinone. Learn more about their differences in this post. 

Learn More: Ubiquinol vs Ubiquinone: Which CoQ10 Is Better?

Creatine 

Creatine is a critical nutrient for your muscles and brain. The body can produce creatine, but you can also get it through diet and supplementation (Balestrino & Adriano, 2019). 

Statins reduce creatine production in the body, making it rely on dietary and supplemental intake to maintain normal levels. Reduced creatine production in cells can lead to mitochondrial dysfunction and increase the risk of muscle side effects from statins (Balestrino & Adriano, 2019). 

Several studies suggest that creatine supplementation may help prevent statin-associated muscle side effects (Balestrino & Adriano, 2019; Scarsi et al., 2024).  

Creatine dosage for statin side effects

The protocol used in one study included a 5-day loading dose of creatine (5 g twice daily), followed by a 6-week creatine maintenance dose (5 g/day) (Balestrino & Adriano, 2019). 

Another study used a lower dosage with equal success: 1 g of creatine three times per day. They found that it works for milder and early forms of muscle side effects, given before major muscle damage happens (Scarsi et al., 2024). 

Sex and Adrenal Hormones

By blocking the enzyme that produces cholesterol, statins also block the production of many other hormones. That’s because the body needs cholesterol to produce sex and adrenal hormones, so called cholesterol-based or steroid hormones. These include testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, aldosterone, and DHEA (London et al., 2020). 

In Men

One study followed 60 men aged 40-65 years with type 2 diabetes after they started high-intestity statin treatment. Here’s what they found during a 6-month follow-up (Chihaoui et al., 2024):

• 47% had decreased libido, compared to 22% before treatment
• The frequency of sexual intercourse decreased
• The score for testosterone deficiency went up (based on the ADAM questionnaire)
• 22% developed gynecomastia (breast enlargement)
• The median total, bioavailable and free testosterone went down 
• 5% developed hypogonadism (testosterone <8 nmol/L)
• DHEAS decreased (a marker of adrenal gland function and precursor to testosterone)

Another analysis looked at 11 studies. In 5 trials including 501 men, statins lowered testosterone by 0.66 nmol/l. The authors conclude that statins, in part, work by lowering testosterone—and that this link requires further investigation since it can have a negative impact on male sexual and overall health (Schooling et al., 2013). 

Several other studies and researchers have brought attention to this issue, pointing out that statins may also affect sperm production and fertility in men (Omolaoye et al., 2022). 

However, other analyses didn’t find a link between statins and low T or sexual dysfunction in men, highlighting that more research and larger sample sizes may be needed (Richard et al., 2016).

In Women

Statins can also decrease sex hormones in women. In one U.S. study including both men and women of different ethnicities, women using statins had (Oluleye et al., 2019):

• Lower levels of Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (SHBG), which binds to and controls how much estrogen and testosterone are available to the body
• Lower levels of DHEA, which is a precursor for both testosterone and estrogen

Imbalances in SHBG are often tied to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), metabolic syndrome, and infertility in women (Hammond, 2011). 

DHEA, on the other hand, is produced by the adrenal cortex and can influence hormonal balance and sexual function in women. DHEA also has brain-protective benefits, anti-aging potential, and affects mood and cognition (Lin et al., 2025). 

Other studies suggest that statins may adversely affect the ovaries and uterus in women, based on an analysis of data from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Adverse effects connected to statin use involved ovarian and uterine cysts, tumors, bleeding disorders, menopause-related conditions, and sexual function disorders (Jiao et al., 2020)

Since statins can affect hormonal balance and sexual health, some researchers consider that it might be necessary to monitor sex hormone levels in both men and women during statin therapy  (Oluleye et al., 2019). 

Holistic approach

A holistic approach to hormonal imbalances from statins in both men and women typically involves:

• Addressing the root cause of both high cholesterol and low sex hormones or sexual dysfunction 
• Supporting the body's natural hormone production through lifestyle, diet, and dietary and herbal supplements
• Assessing gut health and gut microbiome imbalances 

Several gut microbes play roles in estrogen and testosterone production, and they can be impacted by statin therapy (Pakpahan et al., 2025; She et al., 2024; Kumari et al., 2024). 

You may also be recommended a lower statin dose or different type of statin, but this should always be done after consulting a qualified healthcare provider. 

Read Next: Probiotics for Menopause: Expert Tips & Benefits

Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamin K2

While vitamin K1 is found in plant-based foods and involved in blood clotting, vitamin K2 is found in animal and some fermented foods and is essential for bone health. The body can convert vitamin K1 into vitamin K2, but how well it does this depends on genetics and medication use (Yan et al., 2023).  

By blocking the enzyme that makes cholesterol, statins also prevent dietary vitamin K1 from being activated into vitamin K2 in the body. This may lower vitamin K2 levels in the blood, which can cause blood vessels to calcify (Tan & Yi, 2024). 

Vitamin K2 helps steer calcium from the blood into the bones and teeth, where it’s most needed. This prevents calcium from building up in blood vessels, where it can calcify and cause heart disease. That’s why vitamin K2 is often used alongside vitamin D, which aids calcium absorption (Besir & Kapadia, 2024). 

Beyond heart health, vitamin K2 also plays important roles in the brain, joints, nerves, and eyes (Maresz et al., 2021).

In the brain, vitamin K2 is involved in producing sphingolipids, unique brain fats that concentrate in brain cell membranes. Sphingolipids play key roles in learning and memory, and their declining levels have been linked with cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases (Maresz et al., 2021).

Since some people on statins also experience cognitive decline, low vitamin K2 levels may be a silent contributor that’s rarely addressed. 

Vitamin E

Statins may also reduce the blood levels of many fat-soluble vitamins, including important antioxidants like vitamin E. Statins likely do this by lowering LDL, because LDL normally carries and delivers fat-soluble vitamins from the liver to cells throughout the body (Galli &Iulliano). 

Vitamin D 

There’s conflicting evidence on how statins affect vitamin D levels and on whether vitamin D helps reduce muscle side effects (Mazidi et al., 2017). 

Some studies suggest that vitamin D supplementation may help reduce muscle symptoms from statin use, but the evidence is mixed. Recent clinical trials do not support giving vitamin D to everyone on statins to prevent or reduce statin-related muscle symptoms (Fadah et al., 2025). 

However, we know that people with low vitamin D are more likely to experience muscle side effects from statins. Yet, many other factors—including CoQ10 levels, creatine levels, genetics, and metabolic health—also play in (Fadah et al., 2025). 

Instead of everyone on a statin taking vitamin D, it’s more important to personalize supplementation to each person. This may involve doing a vitamin D blood test to check your levels, along with other labs your doctor or naturopath may recommend. 

If your vitamin D is low, supplementation and sunlight exposure can help replete your levels and provide overall health benefits (Riche et al., 2016). 

Trace Minerals

Statins may reduce selenium levels in the body by interfering with the synthesis of selenoproteins, which are a diverse family of enzymes containing selenium. Among them is glutathione peroxidase, one of the body’s most potent antioxidant enzymes. However, new studies suggest that statins may increase the levels of this enzyme—so more data is needed to understand this link (Moosmann & Behl, 2004; Okuyama et al., 2015; Zinellu & Mangoni, 2021). 

In general, selenium is an important nutrient for heart health. In one study, 443 elderly Swedish participants received a placebo or CoQ10 (200 mg/day) and selenium (200 µg/day) for 4 years. They were followed for 12 years, and those in the supplement arm had less deaths from heart disease compared to the placebo arm (Alehagen et al., 2013; Alehagen et al., 2018). 

One 4-month study suggests that statins may also reduce blood levels of trace minerals like zinc and copper (Ghayour-Mobarhan et al., 2005), while another study didn’t find any changes after 4 weeks of treatment (Farrokhi et al., 2012). 

Therefore, it seems like statins may reduce the levels of some minerals in some people in the long run, but we need more data. Patients with kidney disease may be at a higher risk of mineral deficiencies while on statins (Uchiyama et al., 2018). 

Depending on your intake and levels of selenium and other trace minerals, optimizing your diet and considering supplementation may be a good choice. 

Brain Health 

Some statins can cross the blood-brain barrier and suppress cholesterol production in the brain. The brain needs enough cholesterol to function well. Low brain cholesterol levels have been linked to cognitive decline, especially in late life (Cibičková, 2011; Vliet, 2012).  

In some people, statins may also cause mood changes and sleep issues (Pop et al., 2022; Nazar & Sajeev, 2025). 

If you experience these side effects, you may be recommended to switch to a statin that’s less likely to cross into the brain (Sizar et al., 2024). 

It may also help to increase your intake of brain-protective nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants and incorporate certain herbal supplements. Read about the best foods and supplements for brain health in this post. 

Gut Microbiome

Long-lasting effects

A recent study from the University of Tartu Institute of Genomics revealed that medications may leave lasting effects on the gut microbiome even years after stopping their use. 

Researchers analyzed stool samples and prescription records from over 2,500 participants, showing that many commonly used drugs were linked to microbiome changes that persisted long after patients stopped taking them. Notably, statins were among the drugs linked to microbiome alterations lasting up to four years after discontinuation (Asmets et al., 2025). 

Dysbiosis

Statins were originally extracted and isolated from fungi, similar to many antibiotics. Since fungi need to compete with bacteria for limited resources, they can find ways to block the growth of the bacteria they come into contact with. This may be why statins have such unique effects on the gut microbiome (Shi et al., 2024). 

By coming into contact with the gut microbiota, statins can cause gut microbiome changes that sometimes lead to dysbiosis. Gut dysbiosis is linked to a range of health issues (Caparrós-Martín et al., 2017).

One study in mice suggests gut microbiota changes may underlie statin side effects like poor blood sugar control and diabetes onset (Caparrós-Martín et al., 2017).  

Statins also cause more bile to be released into the gut. While bile is necessary for proper nutrient absorption, too much of it can harm your gut bacteria. 

Since both bile and statins are antimicrobial, they can cause major shifts to the gut microbiome. Their presence signals more resilient bacteria to grow, while less resilient but beneficial bacteria may not survive (Caparrós-Martín et al., 2017). 

This may lead to dysbiosis and lower butyrate production in the gut. Butyrate strengthens the gut barrier, reduces gut inflammation, boosts metabolism, and helps balance body weight and blood sugar. Since statins make the gut microbiota less capable of producing butyrate, the risk of metabolic dysfunction and diabetes goes up (Caparrós-Martín et al., 2017).

Gut dysbiosis from statins and other drugs can also affect your brain via the gut-brain axis. This may play into the cognitive and mood changes some patients experience while on statins (Garg & Mohajeri, 2024). 

Leading microbiome experts like Dr. Hariom Yadav have observed the impact of statin therapy on the gut microbiome in their practice.

"While my work is primarily focused on gut-brain axis, during our clinical studies like MiaGB consortium, we have observed that patients on long-term statin therapy sometimes report gastrointestinal discomfort or changes in metabolic responses. Our research and collaborations suggest that these variations may correlate with shifts in the gut microbiome, including reductions in beneficial taxa and increases in taxa associated with inflammation. However, these effects are not uniform and appear to be highly individual, underscoring the importance of personalized approaches." Dr. Yadav underscores.

Statins Side Effects & Your Gut Microbiome Profile

It’s not just that statins can alter your gut microbiota, your gut microbes can also change how statins act in your body. The bacteria in your gut can break down statins and produce metabolites, affecting both the wanted and unwanted effects of statin therapy (Lagunas-Rangel, 2025). 

This is important because it may help personalize your treatment. For example, having more of a certain type of gut bacteria after starting statins can lead to symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea, or constipation. Other people may experience inflammation and poor blood sugar control. If we know which gut bacteria are causing the problem, the gut microbiome can be rebalanced with specific probiotics or diet changes (Shi et al., 2024).

"Personalization could involve profiling a patient’s gut microbiome before starting statin therapy to identify potential risks or metabolic interactions." Dr. Yadav explains.

"For instance, certain gut microbes can influence drug absorption, conversion, and systemic exposure, affecting both efficacy and side effects. Adjustments in statin choice, dose, or timing, combined with dietary or microbiome-targeted interventions, could optimize outcomes. In the future, microbiome-informed statin prescribing could become a practical component of precision medicine."

Studies found that people who responded poorly to statins tended to have lower levels of beneficial gut bacteria like Akkermansia and Lactobacillus (Wang et al., 2021).

People who were more likely experience side effects from statins had (She et al., 2024; Wilmanski et al., 2023):

• Fewer protective bacteria (like Bifidobacterium, Faecalibacterium, and Akkermansia) 
• More inflammatory Bacteroides 
• Fewer butyrate-producing gut bacteria (like Ruminococcus)
• Lower overall gut diversity 

But there’s a catch: the subgroup of people who experienced more severe side effects also responded more intensely to statins in general. They were more likely to see their cholesterol go down but were also more likely to suffer serious side effects (Wilmanski et al., 2023).

This led researchers to search for a middle ground: Is there a gut microbiome profile that can protect patients from side effects but also support the cholesterol-lowering effect of statins?

They found that a protective gut microbiome may look like (Wilmanski et al., 2023; Sui et al., 2025):

• Higher levels of beneficial Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Akkermansia
• More butyrate-producing bacteria like Ruminococcus
• Overall higher gut microbiome diversity 
• Fewer harmful Clostridium bacteria 

Overall, these are the hallmarks of a healthy gut microbiome. Individuals with this gut profile achieve strong LDL cholesterol-lowering responses while being protected from side effects like insulin resistance and poor blood sugar control (Wilmanski et al., 2023). 

Plus, some lactobacilli strains (including our L. Reuteri NCIMB 30242) can bind and remove cholesterol, helping to reduce the absorption of cholesterol in the gut. In patients that respond well to statins, the gut microbiome may grow more lactobacilli, supporting the cholesterol-lowering effects of statins. Lactobacilli also protect the gut lining and support overall gut health (She et al., 2024). 

Despite these promising findings, more research is needed to understand how gut microbiome testing can improve statin effectiveness and safety. 

Related: Akkermansia Side Effects: The Truth About Risks & Safety

How to Optimize Your Gut Microbiome Before or While Taking Statins

Based on the research, some ways to support your gut microbiome while on statins include:

• Consuming more fiber-rich foods that feed your good bacteria (Fu et al., 2022)
• Adding resistant starch to boost your gut’s butyrate production (Chen et al., 2024)
• Avoiding ultra-processed foods and chemicals that disrupt your gut microbiome (Rondinella et al., 2025)
• Eating a healthy diet focused on a variety of whole foods (Han & Xiao, 2020)
• Considering supplementing with Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Akkermansia probiotics (Pires et al., 2024)

Several studies suggest that adding probiotics to statin therapy may achieve better effects on cholesterol levels and inflammation while supporting the gut microbiome  (Chen & Li, 2022; Li et al., 2025). 

"Probiotics have the potential to mitigate adverse effects and support a healthy microbial balance during statin therapy," outlines Dr. Hariom Yadav.

"Certain strains may help maintain gut barrier integrity, reduce inflammation, and improve metabolic processing of the drug. However, the effect is highly strain-specific, and more targeted studies are needed to identify which probiotics are most beneficial in the context of statins," he adds.

Dr. Yadav is a proponent of individualizing probiotic supplementation to each patient.

"Currently, I suggest that probiotics may be considered on a case-by-case basis, particularly for patients experiencing gastrointestinal side effects or dysbiosis," he explains. "While routine co-prescription of probiotics with statins is not yet standard practice, emerging evidence supports their potential as an adjunct to improve tolerance and possibly enhance therapeutic outcomes. Any intervention should be individualized, guided by clinical context and, ideally, microbiome profiling."

Be sure to check out our cholesterol learning hub to learn more about cholesterol, cholesterol-friendly foods, and supplements and probiotics that may help support your heart health. 

Our Solutions

Our L. Reuteri NCIMB 30242 is considered a heart-healthy probiotic because it has been clinically proven to support already normal levels of LDL and total cholesterol. Its heart-protective benefits extend to supporting an already normal anti-inflammatory response in the body, maintaining healthy vitamin D levels, and supporting your gut. Read more about it here. 

The following supplements can also support your heart health while taking statins:

• CoQ10 Ubiquinone 200 mg
• Bone & Heart Support Blend with Vitamin D3, K2, and calcium 

Don’t miss our Super Heart Support Bundle with CoQ10, probiotics, calcium, vitamins D3 and K2, and our enzyme blend. 

As always, remember to consult your doctor before taking any supplements, especially if you are already taking prescription medications. 

Wrap Up

• Since statins can affect levels of key nutrients in your body like CoQ10, creatine, and vitamin K2, it’s important to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle. If you’re deficient in any of these nutrients, supplementation may help you feel better and reduce your chance of side effects.
• Statins can have a huge impact on your gut microbiome, while your gut microbiome can also influence your response to statins. People with a more balanced and diverse gut microbiome tend to experience milder statin side effects and respond better overall. It’s key to address any gut microbiome imbalances while you are taking statins or before you start.
• With the right support, you can keep your gut balanced, protect your metabolic and hormonal health, and reduce your risk of side effects while getting the benefits of your treatment.