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(Gray News) - The long-term use of melatonin could lead to heart failure, according to the American Heart Association. A study found that adults with insomnia who used melatonin for at least a year had a 90% higher chance of being diagnosed with heart failure. The study also determined that participants taking melatonin were nearly 3.5 times as likely to be hospitalized for heart failure compared to those not taking it. “Melatonin supplements are widely thought of as a safe and ‘natural’ option to support better sleep, so it was striking to see such consistent and significant increases in serious health outcomes, even after balancing for many other risk factors,” said Dr. Ekenedilichukwu Nnadi, lead author of the study. Dr. Marie-Pierre St-Onge said she is “surprised that physicians would prescribe melatonin for insomia” since it is “not indicated for the treatment of insomnia.” Researchers said that needing to take melatonin on a regular basis to help with sleep could be a sign that the body is experiencing heart issues. “Insomnia can increase blood pressure, stress hormones and inflammation,” Nnadi said. The study, which has not been published in a peer-reviewed journal, is scheduled to be presented in New Orleans at an upcoming meeting of the American Heart Association.
