A new clinical trial from Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin has found no evidence that statins—commonly prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs—offer additional benefits for treating depression. The findings, published in JAMA Psychiatry, challenge earlier small studies that suggested statins might have antidepressive effects due to their anti-inflammatory properties.
Statins, such as simvastatin, are some of the most prescribed drugs globally. They help lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular conditions.
Because statins also reduce inflammation—a factor linked to depression—some earlier studies hinted that they might improve mood, especially in people with obesity who often have both high cholesterol and a higher risk of depression.
“If statins really did have an antidepressive effect, we could kill two birds with one stone,” said Prof. Christian Otte, who led the study. “Obesity and depression are common and often occur together. If a medication could help with both, it would be a major win for patients.”
To test this theory, the research team designed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial—the gold standard for clinical studies. A total of 161 patients who had both obesity and moderate to severe depression were enrolled. All participants received the antidepressant escitalopram for 12 weeks. Half also received simvastatin, while the other half received a placebo.
Neither the participants nor the researchers knew who was receiving the statin or the placebo during the study, ensuring that the results would be unbiased.
Researchers measured depression levels through both clinical interviews and patient questionnaires, and tracked biological markers like cholesterol and C-reactive protein (CRP), an inflammation indicator often elevated in people with obesity and depression.
The results showed that all participants improved over the 12-week period, confirming the effectiveness of the antidepressant. However, there was no difference in depression improvement between those who took simvastatin and those who took the placebo.
Statins did lower cholesterol and reduced CRP levels, showing their expected biological effects. But those improvements did not translate into better mental health outcomes.
“So, unfortunately, this does not point to an additional antidepressive effect,” said Dr. Woo Ri Chae, co-lead author of the study.
According to the researchers, statins remain effective for lowering cholesterol and preventing cardiovascular disease, including in people with depression. But they should not be used to treat depression itself. As Prof. Otte emphasized: “To our present knowledge, traditional antidepressants remain the gold standard.”
While the current study didn’t find a mental health benefit from statins, the team plans to continue analyzing blood samples at a cellular and molecular level. Future research may uncover subgroups of patients who could still benefit, or new pathways linking inflammation and depression.
For now, the message is clear: statins are an important tool for heart health, but not a substitute for antidepressant treatment. People living with depression should continue to follow established medical advice and speak with their doctors about the best treatment options for their individual needs.
If you care about mental health, please read studies about 6 foods you can eat to improve mental health, and B vitamins could help prevent depression and anxiety.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how dairy foods may influence depression risk, and results showing Omega-3 fats may help reduce depression.
The research findings can be found in JAMA Psychiatry.
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