Taking Melatonin Every Night May Nearly Double Heart Failure Risk
A new study suggests that long-term use of melatonin supplements by adults with chronic insomnia may raise the risk of heart failure and premature death. Melatonin remains one of the most widely used sleep aids in the United States, with about six million Americans taking it regularly to fall asleep faster or stay asleep longer.
Increased Risk Linked to Long-Term Use
Researchers reported that adults who used melatonin for a year or longer showed a significantly higher chance of developing heart failure, needing hospital care for it, or dying from any cause within a five-year period compared with those who never took the supplement.
“Melatonin supplements may not be as harmless as commonly assumed,” said Dr. Ekenedilichukwu Nnadi, lead author and chief resident in internal medicine at Kings County Hospital and Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn, New York.
Dr. Nnadi added that if additional studies confirm these findings, doctors may need to reconsider how they discuss the potential benefits and risks of melatonin use with patients.
Study Background and Methods
The research team analyzed health data from an international database containing the records of more than 130,000 adults diagnosed with insomnia but without any prior heart failure. Participants who had taken melatonin for over a year were compared with similar individuals who had never used the supplement.
Implications
These findings suggest that the long-term use of melatonin as a sleep aid may carry greater cardiovascular risks than previously recognized, warranting further research and careful medical guidance.
Author’s summary: Prolonged nightly melatonin use may nearly double the risk of heart failure, prompting doctors to rethink its safety for long-term sleep support.