melatonin supplement It is gaining popularity as it promotes better quality sleep.
Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced in the body that helps regulate sleep and increases during dark hours and decreases when exposed to sunlight. Supplements are now widely available over the counter, especially in the United States.
However, new research has linked long-term use of melatonin to a significantly increased risk of: heart failurehospitalization and death.
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Ann observational study A research team from the American Heart Association (AHA) examined the five-year health records of 130,828 adults with insomnia, half of whom had been using melatonin for at least one year. The other half took no supplements.
Those who were prescribed other sleeping pills or had previously confirmed heart failure were excluded from the analysis.
Researchers found that long-term use of melatonin in patients with chronic insomnia was associated with a 90% increased chance of developing heart failure compared to non-users.
Furthermore, an observational study found that participants who filled at least two melatonin prescriptions at least 90 days apart had an 82% higher risk of developing heart failure compared to participants who did not use melatonin.
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A secondary analysis revealed that participants who took melatonin were almost 3.5 times more likely to: be hospitalized You are twice as likely to develop heart failure and die.
Heart failure is a common disease that affects 6.7 million adults in the United States and occurs when the heart cannot pump enough blood to organs to function properly, according to the AHA.
Ekenedrichukwu-Nnadi, MD, lead author of the study and chief resident in internal medicine at SUNY Downstate/Kings County Primary Care in Brooklyn, New York, commented in a statement that melatonin supplements “may not be as harmless as commonly thought.”
“Melatonin supplements are widely considered a safe, natural option to support better sleep, so it was surprising to see such a consistent and large increase in severe symptoms.” health outcomes“Even after taking into account many other risk factors,” he said.
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“If confirmed, our study could influence how doctors advise patients about sleep aids.”
The researchers noted several limitations to the study, including a lack of information about the severity of insomnia and the presence of other psychiatric disorders.
“Exacerbated insomnia, depression/anxiety, or use of other sleep-improving medications may be associated with both melatonin use and heart risks,” Nnadi said. “Also, the association we found raises safety concerns about widely used supplements, but our study cannot prove direct causation.”
“This means further research is needed This is to test the safety of melatonin for the heart. ”
Dr. Wendy Troxell, a senior scientist at the Rand Corporation and author of Sharing the Covers: Every couple’s Guide to Better Sleep, called the study an “important wake-up call” for consumers and consumers. medical provider.
“Melatonin is widely promoted in the United States and is easily available over the counter,” a Utah-based expert told Fox News Digital. “Many people think that because it’s natural, it must be safe and effective, but that’s not always the case.”
Troxell said there is “huge variability” in the dosage and potency of melatonin supplements because what’s in a pill or gummy can differ “significantly” from what’s on the label.
She said it “defies logic” that 5mg and 10mg doses are available, warning that the amounts are “much higher than our bodies can produce naturally”.
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“It’s also important to note that melatonin is not actually a sleep aid in the traditional sense,” Troxell noted. “Rather, it’s a chronobiotic, meaning it helps tell your body it’s time to sleep, but it doesn’t necessarily put you to sleep.”
“Perhaps unsurprisingly, research shows little evidence that melatonin is truly effective as a nighttime sleep aid for most symptomatic people. chronic insomnia” she added.
Troxell pointed to existing data showing an increase in emergency department visits. among the children A person who “accidentally overdosed” on melatonin supplements.
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”[This] “If they are packaged as gummies, they can be particularly tempting for young children,” she warned.
Rather than relying on supplements, Troxel advises people to seek treatments with “proven long-term effects,” such as cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia.
Doctors say this structured behavioral intervention “consistently produces better and more durable results” than medication.
In a press release on Monday, the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) urged “caution and caution” in response to research findings linking long-term melatonin to heart disease risk.
“This study presents early, non-peer-reviewed data that cannot establish cause and effect. Chronic insomnia, a symptom common to all study participants, itself may be a contributing factor to heart health and raises more questions than answers,” the statement reads.
The organization also found that people who are sleep deprived have a higher heart rate. blood pressure and experience more cardiovascular events. “Thus, these findings may not apply to healthy adults who sometimes use melatonin supplements for sleep support.”
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CRN will introduce labeling guidelines for melatonin in 2024, recommending upper dose levels and including advisory statements such as “occasional and/or intermittent use only” and “consult a health care professional if you have long-term sleep problems,” the release states.
Experts recommend that consumers consult their health care provider before adding melatonin to their regimen.
