Taking Melatonin Every Night May Nearly Double Heart Failure Risk
A recent study involving adults with chronic insomnia found a connection between long-term melatonin supplement use and an increased risk of heart failure and premature death. Melatonin is among the most widely used over-the-counter sleep aids in the United States, with about six million Americans relying on it to fall asleep faster or maintain sleep.
The research showed that adults with insomnia who took melatonin for at least one year were considerably more likely to develop heart failure, require hospitalization for it, or die from any cause within five years compared to similar adults who never used melatonin.
“Melatonin supplements may not be as harmless as commonly assumed,” said lead study author Ekenedilichukwu Nnadi, MD, chief resident in internal medicine at Kings County Hospital and Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn, New York.
If further studies confirm these findings, it could influence how doctors discuss the risks and benefits of melatonin with their patients.
To understand the impact of prolonged melatonin use, researchers analyzed health records from a large international database of more than 130,000 adults with insomnia, none of whom had a prior diagnosis of heart failure. They compared long-term melatonin users (over one year) with a matched group who never used the supplement.
Summary
This study suggests that extended melatonin use may significantly raise the risk of heart failure and mortality, challenging the common perception of its safety and highlighting the need for cautious medical guidance.