[Which indications for statins besides their cholesterol-lowering effect?].

Statins are essential drugs for the prevention of coronary and cerebral vascular complications. Besides their specific cholesterol-lowering effect, these agents exert various pleiotropic effects, which probably contribute to the cardiovascular protection, but may also play a favourable effect in various other pathologies. Some recent data suggested that statins may play a positive effect in the prevention of Alzheimer disease and colorectal cancer. In contrast, after some initial hope, recent observations in the field of osteoporosis prevention provided discordant and finally rather disappointing results. New prospective studies are mandatory before accepting such new potential indications of statins.