Toward More Effective Bone-Strengthening Drugs

Statins appear to enhance osteoblastic activity by both increasing expression of bone morphogenetic protein-2, a stimulator of osteoblast differentiation, and diminishing osteoclast activity by preventing prenylation and activation of key intracellular proteins. The mechanism of this effect is unclear because our ability to separate antiresorptive and anabolic effects in vitro remains embryonic.

Currently available statins, which are designed for lipid-lowering, may be suboptimal for treating osteoporosis; however, insights from studies such as those reviewed here may lead to development of similar molecules that more effectively promote bone formation and inhibit resorption.

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Cruz AC, Gruber BL. Statins and Osteoporosis: Can these Lipid-Lowering Drugs also Bolster Bones? Cleve Clin J Med 2002;69:277-278.