Statins don't help treat depression, large study confirms

Scientists from the Berlin Charité conducted a large study to see if statins can alleviate symptoms of depression in people with obesity. They found that although the drugs effectively lower cholesterol and inflammation, they have no effect on improving mood. Experts emphasize that statins should be used according to guidelines – only in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Statins are cholesterol-lowering drugs that are widely used to prevent cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, heart attack, and stroke. In the past, there have been suggestions that they may also have antidepressant effects, especially in people with obesity, which is often combined with depression. A team of researchers from Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin led by Prof. Christian Otte decided to verify this hypothesis on a large scale.

The study involved 161 people who suffered from depression and were overweight or obese. For 12 weeks, all patients received a standard antidepressant, Escitalopram. One group also took statins (Simvastatin), and the other a placebo. Neither doctors nor patients knew who was taking which medication, which ensured the reliability of the results.

At the beginning of the study, patients had moderate to severe depression. After 12 weeks, symptoms improved in all patients, but there was no difference between the statin group and the placebo group.

As Dr. Woo Ri Chae explains:

Prof. Otte adds:

The researchers plan to further analyze the blood samples at the cellular and molecular level to better understand the mechanisms linking depression and obesity. New treatment strategies for patients with depression comorbid with other conditions are still being developed. In the meantime, statins remain recommended only for therapy that lowers cholesterol and the risk of heart disease.