Long-term melatonin use linked to 90% higher heart failure risk

People with chronic insomnia who used melatonin long term had a roughly 90% higher risk of developing heart failure over five years, according to a large preliminary study. The findings do not prove melatonin causes heart problems, but they raise new questions about the safety of taking the popular sleep supplement for extended periods. Long-term melatonin use linked to 90% higher heart failure risk.

Long-term melatonin use linked to 90% higher heart failure risk Science News from research organizations Long-term melatonin use linked to 90% higher heart failure risk Long-term melatonin use was linked to a striking increase in heart failure risk, challenging assumptions that the popular sleep aid is harmless. The findings do not prove that melatonin itself caused the increased risks. They raise new questions about the long-term safety of a supplement that many people view as a harmless or "natural" way to improve sleep.

Why Melatonin Is So Widely Used Melatonin is a hormone made naturally by the pineal gland in the brain. It helps control the body’s sleep and wake cycle, also known as the circadian rhythm. Levels of the hormone typically rise when it gets dark and fall during daylight.

Synthetic melatonin is chemically identical to the hormone produced by the body.