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A recent study found that long-term use of melatonin is associated with a roughly 90% increased risk of heart failure among people with chronic insomnia. This research, presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions, raises concerns about the long-term safety of melatonin, a popular sleep aid.
The researchers divided participants based on their documented melatonin use, placing those with at least one year of use in the "melatonin group" and those without any record in the "non-melatonin group." The analysis revealed that 4.6% of the melatonin group developed heart failure compared to 2.7% in the non-melatonin group. Furthermore, those who had filled at least two prescriptions for melatonin showed an 82% higher risk of heart failure.
The study also indicated that the melatonin group had significantly higher rates of hospitalization for heart failure, with 19.0% hospitalized compared to 6.6% in the comparison group. Mortality rates were also higher in the melatonin group, with 7.8% dying compared to 4.3% in the non-melatonin group. Researchers emphasized that these findings challenge the common perception of melatonin as a safe supplement.