Hydrophilic statins
Hydrophilic statins has been studied in 8 papers since 2017: 7 observational studies in people, 1 review; 2 in the past year. The newest paper, Jun 5, 2026: “Low LDL-C Achieved with Lipophilic Statins Is Associated with a Higher Risk of Cognitive Dysfunction”.
8 papers study it5 findingsUpdated
“Hydrophilic statins showed greater protection (aHR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.59-0.76) compared with lipophilic statins (aHR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.69-0.82).”
None of its findings points the other way.
- 4 independent labs in 3 countries
- Funders: National Institute on Aging and others
- 1 of 5 findings with company ties
- Humans7
What did studies of Hydrophilic statins find?
2Studies of Hydrophilic statins measured 2 outcomes; the most studied are metastatic cancer (1 study) and mortality (1).
Metastatic cancer
no changein humans1
1 study
Metastatic cancer
no changein humans1
Hydrophilic statins were not clearly linked with metastatic cancer in humans (lipophilicity subgroup analysis) (SHR 0.77, 95% CI 0.52-1.13).
“but not for hydrophilic statins (metastatic (SHR: 0.77 95% CI [0.52-1.13])”
Humanslipophilicity subgroup analysishydrophilic statinsmedian 8.3 years follow-up
EClinicalMedicine
Mortality
no changein humans1HR 1.01
1 study
Mortality
no changein humans1HR 1.01
Hydrophilic statins were not clearly linked with mortality in humans (aging cancer survivors) (HR 1.01, 95% CI 0.72-1.41, P = 0.960).
“individuals prescribed hydrophilic statins did not show a reduced risk of all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.72-1.41; P = 0.960)”
Humansaging cancer survivorsn = 2,968
Aging clinical and experimental research
What is Hydrophilic statins linked with?
3Studies link Hydrophilic statins with 3 measures, most often delirium (1 study), nigral R2* (1) and MDS-UPDRS-I (1).
Delirium
downin humans1
1 study
Delirium
downin humans1
Hydrophilic statins are linked with a lower risk of delirium in humans (type 2 diabetes mellitus) (aHR 0.67, 95% CI 0.59-0.76).
“Hydrophilic statins showed greater protection (aHR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.59-0.76) compared with lipophilic statins (aHR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.69-0.82).”
Humanstype 2 diabetes mellitushydrophilic
Statins Reduce Delirium Risk in Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes
Journal of the American Medical Directors Association
Nigral R2*
upin humans1
1 study
Nigral R2*
upin humans1
Hydrophilic statins are associated with nigral R2* in humans (Parkinson's disease; compared with statin non-users) (β= 3.7, p = 0.043).
“Hydrophilic statin users, however, demonstrated faster clinical progression of non-motor symptoms [MDS-UPDRS-I (β= 4.8, p = 0.010)] and nigral R2* (β= 3.7, p = 0.043).”
HumansParkinson's disease; compared with statin non-userssubstantia nigra18 months
Parkinson's Disease Progression and Statins: Hydrophobicity Matters
Journal of Parkinson's disease
MDS-UPDRS-I
upin humans1
1 study
MDS-UPDRS-I
upin humans1
Hydrophilic statins are associated with MDS-UPDRS-I in humans (Parkinson's disease; compared with statin non-users) (β= 4.8, p = 0.010).
“Hydrophilic statin users, however, demonstrated faster clinical progression of non-motor symptoms [MDS-UPDRS-I (β= 4.8, p = 0.010)]”
HumansParkinson's disease; compared with statin non-users18 months
Parkinson's Disease Progression and Statins: Hydrophobicity Matters
Journal of Parkinson's disease