The body’s ability to produce and metabolize CoQ10 has been reported to decrease with age. CoQ10 deficiency may be caused by insufficient dietary intake of CoQ10, impairment in CoQ10 production, drug-induced CoQ10 depletion, gene mutations and oxidative stress. HMG-CoA reductase is an enzyme required for the synthesis of cholesterol and CoQ10. Cholesterol lowering medications inhibit this enzyme in order to reduce cholesterol synthesis, but may also simultaneously deplete CoQ10 status.