Can statins reduce inflammation in the body?

October 14, 2025 •

3 min read

In the landmark JUPITER trial, rosuvastatin significantly reduced levels of the inflammatory marker high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) by 37%. Research increasingly shows that can statins reduce inflammation in the body not only through their lipid-lowering action but also via a range of independent, or 'pleiotropic,' effects.

Quick Summary

Statins possess anti-inflammatory properties by inhibiting key cellular signaling pathways and reducing inflammatory biomarkers. This effect, which occurs beyond their primary lipid-lowering action, has shown benefits in cardiovascular health and other inflammatory conditions.

Key Points

Beyond lipids: Statins exhibit potent anti-inflammatory effects that are independent of their primary cholesterol-lowering action, contributing significantly to their cardiovascular protective benefits.
Molecular mechanism: The anti-inflammatory action occurs by inhibiting the mevalonate pathway, which affects the function of small GTP-binding proteins (like Rho and Rac) involved in promoting inflammation.
C-reactive protein (CRP): Statins effectively lower circulating levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a key marker of systemic inflammation. This effect has been documented in numerous clinical trials, including the JUPITER and PROVE IT-TIMI 22 studies.
Endothelial protection: By increasing the bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO) and reducing the expression of adhesion molecules, statins help improve the health of the endothelium, the inner lining of blood vessels.
Mixed results in some conditions: While beneficial for cardiovascular inflammation, trials investigating statins for other inflammatory conditions like chronic kidney disease and heart failure have yielded mixed results regarding clinical outcomes.
Potential for rheumatoid arthritis: Some research indicates that statins can be an effective adjunctive treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, helping to reduce inflammatory markers and disease activity.

The Pleiotropic Effects of Statins

Statins are primarily known for lowering LDL cholesterol. However, their benefits in preventing cardiovascular disease extend beyond this, through 'pleiotropic effects' including anti-inflammatory actions. Atherosclerosis, being an inflammatory disease, makes these effects particularly relevant.

Molecular Mechanisms of Anti-Inflammatory Action

Statins inhibit inflammation via several mechanisms, largely by blocking the mevalonate pathway.

Mevalonate Pathway Inhibition: Statins block HMG-CoA reductase, preventing the formation of mevalonate and subsequent isoprenoids like FPP and GGPP.
Modulation of Small G-Proteins: FPP and GGPP are essential for small GTP-binding proteins (Rho, Rac) involved in inflammation. Statins inhibit their activation, suppressing pro-inflammatory signals.
Suppression of Cytokines: Statins reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1, TNF-alpha) by inhibiting transcription factors like NF-κB and AP-1.
Endothelial Function: Statins improve endothelial health by increasing nitric oxide (NO) availability and reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS).
Reduction of Adhesion Molecules: Statins decrease adhesion molecules (VCAM-1, ICAM-1), limiting inflammatory cell infiltration into vessel walls.

Clinical Evidence from Key Trials

Clinical trials highlight statins' anti-inflammatory effects, often using hs-CRP as a marker.

JUPITER Trial (2008): In individuals with elevated hs-CRP, rosuvastatin reduced hs-CRP by 37% and cardiovascular events by 44%.
PROVE IT-TIMI 22 Trial (2005): Intensive statin therapy in acute coronary syndromes led to better outcomes with lower hs-CRP, independent of LDL-C.
CARE Trial (2002): Pravastatin reduced recurrent coronary events more effectively in patients with persistent inflammation.

Impact on Specific Inflammatory Conditions

Statins' anti-inflammatory properties have been studied in various conditions.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): Statins can reduce inflammatory markers and improve disease activity in RA, potentially as an adjunctive therapy, especially for cardiovascular risk reduction.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and Heart Failure (HF): While statins reduce inflammatory markers in CKD and HF, trials like AURORA and GISSI-HF haven't consistently shown improved clinical outcomes.

Comparing the Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Different Statins

The anti-inflammatory effects vary among statins and dosages. The table below provides a general comparison.


Feature	Atorvastatin (High-Intensity)	Simvastatin (Moderate-Intensity)	Pravastatin (Moderate-Intensity)	Rosuvastatin (High-Intensity)
Effect on LDL-C	Potent reduction	Moderate reduction	Moderate reduction	Most potent reduction
Effect on hs-CRP	Significant reduction, especially at high dose	Significant reduction	Significant reduction	Significant reduction, shown in JUPITER
Best for Long-Term CRP	80 mg/day has shown strong long-term effects	40 mg/day has shown promising long-term effects	Less data available for long-term specific CRP reduction	Very strong reduction demonstrated
Clinical Evidence (Anti-Inflammatory)	MIRACL, PROVE IT-TIMI 22 trials	Some trials, but less consistently effective than high-dose atorvastatin	CARE, PRINCE trials	JUPITER trial

Conclusion: A Broader Therapeutic Picture

Statins have significant anti-inflammatory effects alongside their cholesterol-lowering properties. These pleiotropic actions contribute to cardiovascular benefits by inhibiting inflammatory pathways. While highly beneficial for cardiovascular inflammation, their role in other inflammatory conditions like RA is often adjunctive. Effects vary by statin, and research continues to explore their full therapeutic potential. For further details on statin pleiotropic effects, refer to this review: Beneficial Cardiovascular Pleiotropic Effects of Statins.

Key takeaways

Mechanism beyond cholesterol reduction: Statins exert anti-inflammatory effects by blocking the mevalonate pathway, which is involved in producing inflammatory signaling molecules, not just cholesterol. Significant hs-CRP reduction: Clinical trials like JUPITER showed statins can significantly lower the inflammatory biomarker high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). Improved cardiovascular outcomes: In the PROVE IT-TIMI 22 trial, lower hs-CRP levels after statin therapy correlated with better outcomes in acute coronary syndrome patients, independent of LDL-C levels. Effect on rheumatoid arthritis: Studies suggest statins can help reduce disease activity and inflammation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, offering a potential adjunctive benefit. Endothelial function improvement: Statins increase the availability of nitric oxide (NO), which helps protect the endothelium (the lining of blood vessels) and reduces oxidative stress. Differential statin effects: The anti-inflammatory effects can vary between different types and dosages of statins, with high-intensity versions generally having a more pronounced impact.

Frequently Asked Questions

Statins reduce inflammation through several 'pleiotropic effects' that are independent of their cholesterol-lowering action. They inhibit the production of isoprenoid molecules, which are needed to activate small G-proteins (Rho, Rac) involved in inflammatory signaling. This leads to reduced production of inflammatory cytokines and improved endothelial function.

Both the anti-inflammatory and cholesterol-lowering effects of statins are important for cardiovascular health. The anti-inflammatory properties offer additional protection by stabilizing vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques and improving endothelial function, contributing to reduced cardiovascular events independent of lipid levels.

The magnitude of the anti-inflammatory effect can vary between different statins and dosages. While all statins appear to have some anti-inflammatory properties, head-to-head studies and meta-analyses suggest there can be differences in their effect on inflammatory biomarkers like CRP.

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a biomarker of inflammation that can independently predict cardiovascular risk. Statins have been shown to lower elevated levels of CRP, and this reduction correlates with a lower risk of recurrent cardiovascular events, even in patients with normal LDL-C.

Some evidence suggests statins can be used as an adjunctive therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to help reduce inflammatory markers and disease activity. However, they are not a primary treatment and are typically used in addition to standard RA medications, particularly for their benefit in reducing cardiovascular risk in RA patients.

Studies in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and heart failure (HF) have shown that statins can reduce inflammatory markers like CRP, but large randomized trials have generally failed to demonstrate an improvement in major clinical outcomes in these patient groups. This highlights the complexity of inflammation in these diseases and suggests the effect may not be universally beneficial.

Yes, some evidence suggests that discontinuing statins, especially in high-risk patients like those with acute coronary syndromes, can lead to a rebound in inflammation and an increased risk of adverse events in the short term. For this reason, sudden discontinuation is generally not advised unless medically necessary.