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Statins as modulators of bone formation
Open accessAbstract
The use of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) to reduce serum cholesterol is well described. However, the recent finding that statins have direct effects on bone was unexpected. A number of epidemiological studies have recently been published that explore the effects of statins on bone mineral density and risk of fracture in humans. Statins may act by directly stimulating the expression of bone morphogenetic protein-2 and increasing osteoblast differentiation or, like nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates, may have effects on the mevalonate pathway that leads to inhibition of osteoclast activity and osteoblast apoptosis. In addition, the demonstration that statins can inhibit inflammation and encourage angiogenesis offers other possibilities for action.
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Statins increase BMP-2 expression in bone cells, leading to better bone formation.
“Statins were initially used to lower blood lipids; research confirms that statins increase BMP-2 expression in bone cells, leading to better bone formation.”
From Interorgan Communications in Skeletal Pathophysiology: From Molecular Pathways to Multidisciplinary Therapies (2026) · cites this paper as [180]
The 'Unexpected effects on bone' and 'Direct effects on bone' sections report BMP-2-related effects and increased bone formation for several statins. But the paper describes BMP-2 stimulation as a possible mechanism and says pravastatin did not induce BMP-2 expression in the cells tested. The claim's unqualified, confirmed causal statement is therefore stronger than the source supports. Page numbers were not supplied. (LLM, conf=0.85)
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Metadata
- Authors
- Edwards, C. J., & Spector, T. D.
- Affiliations
- Southampton General Hospital (GB)
- St Thomas' Hospital (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Edwards, Christopher J
- Venue
- Arthritis Research & Therapy
- Published
- 2002-04
- Volume
- 4
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 151-3
- ISSN
- 1478-6354 (ISSN-L)
- 1478-6362
- PMC
- PMC128924
- OpenAlex
- W1922598740
- Cited by
- 53
- References
- 19
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 3 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 1.36
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Locations
- Arthritis Research & Therapy (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- ePrints Soton (University of Southampton) (submittedVersion)
- Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Versus Arthritis (17489)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Bone health and osteoporosis research
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Bone Metabolism and Diseases
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Bone health and treatments
- Keywords
- statins, bone formation, bone mineral density, fracture risk, BMP-2, osteogenic differentiation, mevalonate pathway, osteoclast inhibition, osteoblast apoptosis, inflammation, angiogenesis
- MeSH terms
- Bone and Bones, Bone Development, Female, Humans, Inflammation, Male, Neovascularization, Pathologic, Osteoblasts, Bone Density, Transforming Growth Factor beta, Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors, Bone Morphogenetic Proteins, Fractures, Bone, Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2
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