Potential Heart Risks of Long-Term Melatonin Use

Dietary supplements like melatonin are popular natural options for helping people sleep. However, a recent study suggests that long-term use of these supplements may be linked to increased risks of heart failure and death. These findings raise questions about the cardiac safety of this hormone, which is generally considered completely safe.

Heart Risks Associated with Melatonin

According to a comprehensive analysis involving over 130,000 adults suffering from chronic insomnia, long-term use of melatonin, defined as use for a year or more, increased the likelihood of heart failure by up to 90%.

Additionally, melatonin users were 3.5 times more likely to be hospitalized due to heart failure, and their risk of dying from any cause nearly doubled over a period of five years.

Challenges and Calls for Further Research

These results challenge the common belief that melatonin is a completely safe and natural option for supporting good sleep. Although a direct causal relationship between melatonin and increased cardiac risks has not been proven, the study highlights the urgent need for more research to better understand the connection.

Experts have noted that these findings might impact how doctors advise patients on the use of sleep aids like melatonin, especially those with chronic insomnia.

Variation in Melatonin Regulation

It is noteworthy that in the United States, melatonin is sold as a dietary supplement without a prescription, meaning its strength and purity can vary between different brands. This variation in composition makes it difficult to assess the safety of long-term use.

In the United Kingdom, for example, melatonin is only available by prescription, providing a certain level of regulation and oversight in its use.

Conclusion

The study concludes that long-term use of melatonin may be associated with increased heart risks, including heart failure and death. While these findings are concerning, they do not prove that melatonin is the direct cause of these risks. Therefore, more in-depth research is needed to better understand the cardiac effects of melatonin and to make informed health decisions when using it.