A common solution to sleeplessness may have adverse health effects.
Consistently taking melatonin supplements, which are commonly used to promote sleep and address insomnia, was associated with a higher risk of heart failure diagnosis, heart failure hospitalization and death from any cause in chronic insomnia, according to a preliminary study that will be presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions in November.
Among more than 100,000 adults diagnosed with insomnia, those with consistent melatonin use had a 90% higher chance of incident heart failure over five years compared with non-users. Melatonin users were nearly 3 1/2 times as likely to be hospitalized for heart failure compared to those not taking the supplement. The study cautions there isn't yet a direct connection between melatonin and heart disease.
But “,elatonin supplements may not be as harmless as commonly assumed. If our study is confirmed, this could affect how doctors counsel patients about sleep aids,” said Ekenedilichukwu Nnadi, lead author of the study and chief resident in internal medicine at SUNY Downstate/Kings County Primary Care in Brooklyn, New York.
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