A preliminary study indicates a potential association between long-term melatonin use and a higher risk of heart failure. The research, presented by the American Heart Association, examined health data and found a correlation between melatonin use and heart failure diagnoses in adults with insomnia. Experts caution that the findings are preliminary and more research is needed to confirm the results.
A preliminary study suggests a popular sleep aid could have negative effects on heart health, the American Heart Association said this week. Here’s what to know about what the study is saying about melatonin and heart failure :Long-term use of melatonin was associated with a higher risk of heart failure diagnosis, according to a preliminary study announced this week by the American Heart Association.
Researchers looked at five years of health data for adults with insomnia who had long-term melatonin use in their records, compared to the data of other adults who had insomnia but no melatonin use in their records. The data analysis found: "Melatonin supplements may not be as harmless as commonly assumed. If our study is confirmed, this could affect how doctors counsel patients about sleep aids," said Ekenedilichukwu Nnadi, M.D., lead author of the study and chief resident in internal medicine at SUNY Downstate/Kings County Primary Care in Brooklyn, New York.The study is a research abstract, meaning the findings are considered preliminary and are not yet peer-reviewed. Also, the association noted the data may not paint a complete picture because it only used prescription evidence to identify melatonin users, meaning those who use over-the-counter melatonin – such as in the U.S. – were classified in the data as nonusers. Melatonin is only available by prescription in the United Kingdom.Some experts are saying more insight is needed, and not to question yet the long-term use of melatonin. "The findings are certainly provocative and warrant attention, especially given the widespread perception of melatonin as a benign, ‘natural’ sleep aid," Muhammad Rishi, an associate professor of clinical medicine and spokesperson for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, who was not involved in the study, told the Washington Post. "However, the study is observational and based on electronic health record data, which limits its ability to establish causality."The American Heart Association also said the link does not prove a cause-and-effect relationship between taking melatonin and heart failure, but rather raises safety concerns about the use of melatonin, which is widely available. The Washington Post also noted that these preliminary results appear to contradict existing research suggesting that melatonin might have health benefits for people with heart failure. The study will be presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2025, which is Nov. 7-10 in New Orleans.According to the American Heart Association’s 2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, heart failure occurs when the heart can’t pump enough oxygen-rich blood to the body’s organs for them to function properly and is a common condition that affects 6.7 million adults in the U.S.Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced in the body by the pineal gland, and it helps regulate the body’s sleep-wake cycle, the association explained. Melatonin levels increase during darkness and decrease during daylight.Chemically identical synthetic versions of the hormone are often used to treat insomnia and jet lag.
Melatonin Heart Failure Sleep Aid Cardiovascular Health Insomnia
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Chronic Melatonin Use May Raise Risk of Heart Failure, Study SuggestsResearchers have found evidence that taking melatonin for a year or more is associated with a higher risk of heart failure.
Read more »
Reality Is Too Complex For Any Cosmic Computer Simulation, Study SuggestsThe natural complexity of the universe should phase out the possibility of some advanced civilization controlling reality itself, researchers argue.
Read more »
Study Links Long-Term Melatonin Use to Potential Heart Failure RiskA recent study indicates a possible association between long-term melatonin use (over a year) in adults with chronic insomnia and a higher risk of heart failure. Experts caution that the findings show a correlation, not causation, and further research is necessary before drawing definitive conclusions. The study looked at prescribed melatonin, not over-the-counter versions.
Read more »
Regular melatonin users face higher risk of heart failure, new study findsLong-term use of melatonin could be a sign of underlying heart problems, according to research released Monday and reported by NBC News.
Read more »
Long-term use of melatonin could lead to heart failure, study saysThe long-term use of melatonin could lead to heart failure, according to the American Heart Association.
Read more »
Melatonin linked with higher heart failure rate in preliminary studyLong-term melatonin use was associated with a higher risk of heart failure, according to a preliminary study announced this week by the American Heart Association.
Read more »