The mevalonate pathway is the biological pathway that produces the building-block molecules that the body needs for its synthesis of cholesterol, Coenzyme Q10, Vitamin K, and all steroid hormones. As such, the mevalonate pathway is the target of the statin medications that inhibit the body’s production of cholesterol and Coenzyme Q10.
Mevalonic acid is the precursor to the mevalonate pathway. Mevalonate is the salt or the ester of mevalonic acid.