Statins and their effects on bone formation

Current approaches for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis include therapies that prevent bone resorption but do not substantially increase bone formation. Statins, drugs that decrease serum cholesterol, recently have been shown to increase bone formation in vivo and in vitro in animal models. Evidence suggests that inhibiting hydroxy-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase stimulates osteoblastic differentiation by increasing bone morphogenetic protein-2 production. These results suggest that either these drugs or others that target the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway may be useful as therapies for stimulating bone formation in common diseases of bone loss such as osteoporosis.