New research: Long-term use of melatonin may cause heart problems

Many people consider a melatonin supplement the ultimate tip for a good night's sleep. This substance, which your body also produces, can help you get drowsy and fall asleep. But is it actually that healthy?

New research from the American Heart Association shows the drug may not be as harmless as it seems. Those who use the sleep aid for longer than a year may have a much higher risk of heart failure, hospitalizations, and even death. The findings will be presented this week at a major heart health conference in New Orleans.

Metro previously wrote that about half of all Dutch people suffer from sleep problems .

The study analyzed health data from more than 130,000 adults with chronic insomnia. People who used melatonin for a year or longer were 90 percent more likely to develop heart failure than those who didn't use the drug. They were also 3.5 times more likely to be hospitalized for heart failure and nearly twice as likely to die from any cause.

Researchers emphasize that the link does not yet prove that melatonin is the direct cause. However, they do raise serious questions about the safety of long-term use.

Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone that helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle and can be disrupted by too much blue light at the end of the day . The synthetic version is widely used for sleep problems or jet lag and is available over the counter in many countries. Because it is often considered a natural product, many people use it long-term without medical supervision.

"Melatonin supplements may not be as harmless as often thought," says lead researcher Dr. Ekenedilichukwu Nnadi of SUNY Downstate in New York. "If our findings are confirmed, it could influence how doctors advise their patients about sleep aids."

The researchers used data from an international database of anonymous medical records. They examined adults with insomnia who had used melatonin for at least a year and compared them with a similarly sized group who had not. Countries where melatonin is available by prescription, such as the United Kingdom, were included, as were countries where it is sold over the counter, such as the United States.

Because many people use the supplement without a prescription, the study may have underestimated actual use. However, the increased risk remained, even after adjusting for other health factors such as blood pressure, weight, and existing heart problems.

Sleep researcher Marie-Pierre St-Onge of Columbia University, who was not involved in the study , calls the results alarming. "I'm surprised that melatonin is sometimes used for more than a year, even though it's not officially approved for treating insomnia in the US. People should be aware of the risks of long-term use without medical supervision."

The researchers add that more studies are needed to determine the precise relationship between melatonin and heart health. "Much remains unknown about the effects of long-term use," says Nnadi. "Until then, caution is advised."

Those who occasionally use melatonin to sleep better probably don't have to worry. The risks seem to apply primarily to those who take the drug regularly and long-term. However, experts advise consulting a doctor first if you experience persistent sleep problems, rather than continuing to experiment with supplements on your own.

These are the most read articles at the moment: