Taking Melatonin Every Night May Nearly Double Heart Failure Risk
A new study has linked long-term melatonin use to an increased risk of heart failure and premature death among adults suffering from chronic insomnia. Melatonin remains a widely used over-the-counter sleep aid in the United States, with about six million Americans relying on it to improve sleep quality.
Researchers analyzed data from more than 130,000 adults diagnosed with insomnia but without prior heart failure. They compared individuals using melatonin for at least a year with similar participants who had never used it. The findings indicated that long-term users were significantly more likely to experience heart failure, require hospitalization, or die from any cause within five years.
“Melatonin supplements may not be as harmless as commonly assumed,” said Ekenedilichukwu Nnadi, MD, chief resident in internal medicine at Kings County Hospital and Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn, New York.
Dr. Nnadi suggested that if further research supports these results, physicians may need to reconsider how they discuss melatonin’s potential benefits and risks with their patients.
Study Overview
- Participants: Over 130,000 adults with insomnia and no prior heart failure.
- Duration: Long-term use defined as longer than one year.
- Findings: Increased risk of heart failure, hospitalization, and death among long-term users.
Author’s summary: Long-term melatonin use for insomnia may substantially raise heart failure and mortality risks, warranting renewed caution in its routine use as a sleep aid.