Nov 06, 2025
3 min read
Studies show heart failure risk increases by 90 percent in long-term users, but experts caution against interpreting results
Long-term use of melatonin may increase cardiac risks, study finds
Studies show a 90% increase in the risk of long-term failure in long-term users, but experts caution in interpreting the results.
Long-term use of melatonin supplements may be associated with a higher risk of heart failure, according to new research presented at the American Heart Association 2025 scientific session meeting, which takes place November 7-10.But does this mean that people who use it as a sleep aid should stop immediately?
An analysis of electronic medical records of thousands of adults with chronic insomnia who took melatonin for a year or more found that more than 90% of them did not take melatonin for the next five years, but did not take melatonin.Melatonin users were also three times more likely to develop heart failure and twice as likely to die from any cause.
However, experts advise caution before considering melatonin a definite danger.The research had significant limitations, did not aim to prove cause and effect, and contradicted previous studies that indicated benefits for heart health.The work has not yet been peer-reviewed or published in a scientific journal.
Mr. Eken Sukenilichukwu Nnadi was considered safe and a leader "improving serious and important health education and primary care
However, "although the association we found some ways of worrying about the size of the supplement program, their study cannot," says our study, "says Nonadi. "This means that more studies are needed to test the safety of melatonnin for the heart."
In the brain, melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland to help the body sleep in response to darkness.In addition to the pineal of animals, it can be removed from the meeting of those created in the chemical process.
In the United States, because Melatonin was sold as a dietary supplement, manufacturers are not subject to the invalid level of inspection in the safety measures and trade approval processes of hidden Food and Drandful supplements.
The National Administrative Council (ANVISA, also in Melauchina) also recommends that melathyme is recommended for people 19 years of age or older when it comes to food allowances.21 milligrams per day.
Chronic insomnia, which affects 10% of the world's population, is characterized by taking more than 30 minutes to fall asleep or falling asleep again up to three times a week for more than three months.It can cause problems with memory, energy during the day, mood, thinking and concentration, performance at work or school, and social life.
A doctor can help determine whether insomnia occurs in isolation or due to an underlying factor, such as a medical condition or stressful life circumstances, and thus determine the best form of treatment — whether to adjust your sleep routine, whether to undergo therapy for mental or emotional distress, take medication, take medication, or treat a medical condition.
Melatonin use and cardiovascular health
Melatonin supplements are often marketed as safe sleep aids, but there is insufficient information on long-term safety for cardiovascular health, the authors said.
The research team counted more than 130,000 adults with medical records in the gletx global research network, a large international electronic database.They are on average 55 years old, 61.4% are women.Participants with documentation of melatonin use in their medical records at a medical visit for more than a year are classified as melatonin-active, while the melatonin group is included in the “no-melatonin group”.
These factors lead to some important limitations, the authors and independent experts pointed out.
The database includes patients in countries that require a prescription for melatonin, such as the United Kingdom, and those that do not, including the United States — so the control group may inadvertently include adults who take melatonin without a prescription, which would not be reflected in their medical records, Carlos Egea, who was not involved in the research, said in a statement provided to the Science Media Center.Egea is the president of the Spanish Federation of Sleep Medicine Societies.
The researchers also did not have details on the severity of the participants' insomnia or whether they had mental health problems, both of which could affect melatonin use and heart health risks, Nnadi said.
Lack of sleep puts you at risk of heart attack or stroke.Stress Management Rhythms - Our Melatonin rhythms play a role and our sleep clocks are associated with mimicking cardiovascular problems in the case of heart failure.
Among the study's limitations was a lack of dosage information, the Council for Responsible Nutrition, a trade association for the dietary supplement and functional food industry, said in a statement.
According to Egea, four studies disagree with previous studies, including a March analysis that found melatonin supplements improved quality of life and heart function in heart failure patients.
Melatonin is also an antioxidant, and antioxidants help protect against DNA damage caused by oxidative stress, an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in the body.
before taking sleeping pills
Many people use melatonin as a short-term or long-term solution to sleep problems.However, in some people, the supplement has been linked to a range of side effects, including pain, depression, stomach pain, weakness, depression, and anxiety.
Marie-Pierre St-Onge, director of the Center of Excellence for Sleep and Circadian Research in the Department of Medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, said in a statement to the American Heart Association that before taking supplements, "talk to your doctor first to get a proper diagnosis of your sleep problems and then to discuss appropriate treatment."“People should be aware that melatonin should not be taken for long periods of time without appropriate indications.”
Good sleep hygiene includes limiting light exposure, screen time, and food and alcohol consumption in the hours before bed.Your room should be dark, cool and quiet.
If you do decide to take melatonin supplements, pharmaceutical-grade melatonin is the best option, according to experts interviewed by CNN in a 2022 report — look for a seal showing that the US Pharmacopoeia's Dietary Supplement Verification Program, an independent nonprofit organization, has tested the product.
* With information from Anvisa, added by Gabriela Marachescini, from CNN Brasil
