Statins

Overview

Statins (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors) are the most prescribed drug class worldwide for cholesterol lowering. In the WikiBiome framework, statins are notable for their microbiome-modulating effects and drug repurposing potential beyond cardiovascular disease — including anti-vaginolysin activity against gardnerella vaginalis, neuroprotection in Parkinson's, and cancer chemoprevention.

Microbiome Effects

  • Rosuvastatin alters gut microbiome composition during lipid-lowering therapy [1].
  • Simvastatin promotes Lactobacillus expansion and cholesterol metabolism in CRC context [2].
  • Statin users show distinct gut microbiome profiles compared to non-users.

Drug Repurposing

  • BV/vaginolysin: Statins deplete membrane cholesterol → reduce vaginolysin (cholesterol-dependent cytolysin) binding → attenuate Gardnerella virulence [3].
  • Parkinson's: Statin use associated with altered gut microbiome and potential neuroprotection [4].
  • Cancer: Statins show chemopreventive effects in breast and colorectal cancer [5].
  • Preterm birth: Statin repurposing for preterm delivery prevention [6].

Cross-References

References (6)

  1. Yinhui Liu, Xiaobo Song, Huimin Zhou et al. (2018). Gut Microbiome Associates With Lipid-Lowering Effect of Rosuvastatin in Vivo. Frontiers in Microbiology. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2018.00530
  2. Xiaoliang Xie, Wenjing Wang, Haiming Zhang et al. (2025). Cholesterol-induced colorectal cancer progression and its mitigation through gut microbiota remodeling and simvastatin treatment. BMC Cancer. doi:10.1186/s12885-025-14379-3
  3. Abdelmaksoud AA, Girerd PH, Garcia EM et al. (2017). Abdelmaksoud 2017 — Association between Statin Use, the Vaginal Microbiome, and Gardnerella vaginalis Vaginolysin-Mediated Cytotoxicity. PLOS ONE. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0183765
  4. Eero Mertsalmi, Velma T E Aho, Pedro A B Pereira et al. (2023). Mertsalmi 2023 -- Statins and Gut Microbiome in Parkinson's Disease. Nature Communications. doi:10.1038/s41467-023-38248-4
  5. Dang Y, Zhang Y, Wang Z (2025). The role of statins in the regulation of breast and colorectal cancer and future directions. Frontiers in Pharmacology. doi:10.3389/fphar.2025.1578345
  6. Eleanor Whitaker (2021). Whitaker 2021 — Could Statins Be a Novel Therapeutic for the Prevention of Preterm Delivery? Evidence from an Animal Model and Phase II Feasibility Trial. University of Edinburgh (PhD thesis)

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