Taking Melatonin Every Night May Nearly Double Heart Failure Risk
A recent study on adults with chronic insomnia found that long-term melatonin supplement use is linked to a higher risk of heart failure and increased mortality. Melatonin, widely used in the United States, helps about six million Americans fall asleep faster or maintain sleep.
The research revealed that individuals with insomnia who took melatonin for at least a year were significantly more likely to develop heart failure, require hospitalization for the condition, or die from any cause within five years compared to those who did not use melatonin.
“Melatonin supplements may not be as harmless as commonly assumed,” says 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 these results are validated by further studies, it could change doctors' discussions with patients regarding the risks and benefits of melatonin as a sleep aid, adds Dr. Nnadi.
Study Details
To assess long-term effects, researchers analyzed health records from over 130,000 adults with insomnia, none of whom had prior heart failure diagnoses. They compared those who used melatonin for more than a year to a similar group who never used the supplement.
Key Findings
- Long-term melatonin users had a significantly higher risk of developing heart failure.
- They were more likely to require hospitalization related to heart failure.
- Mortality from any cause was higher among users compared to non-users.
These findings highlight the need for cautious evaluation of melatonin's safety in chronic use.
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