Melatonin Use Linked to โฃCardiovascular Issues in โnew Study
NEW YORK (AP) – A new study is raising concerns aboutโ the potential cardiovascular effects of melatonin, a widely used over-the-counter sleepโ aid. Researchers found individuals with higher levels of melatonin in โขtheir bloodstreams exhibited a โsignificantly increased risk ofโค cardiovascular disease,โค prompting calls for further examination into theโฃ long-term effects โคof the โsupplement.
The study,โข conducted by researchers from โSUNY Downstateโฃ Health Sciences University, โฃanalyzed data from over 22,000 participants โฃand revealed โฃthose with the highest melatonin levels had a 53% increased risk of cardiovascular disease compared to those with โthe lowestโข levels. โขWhile theโ findings don’t proveโค melatonin โ causes heart problems,they highlight a correlation that warrants closer scrutiny,particularly given the supplement’s growing popularity.
melatonin is naturally โฃproduced byโ the body to regulate sleep,but is alsoโ commonly taken asโฃ a supplement to address insomnia,jet lag,and othre sleep โคdisturbances. It’sโข readily available over-the-counter in the United States, unlike some other countries where โขa prescription is required. This accessibility, coupled with โขincreasing stressโ and sleep disruptions, has led to a surge in melatonin use.
however, expertsโค caution against drawing definitive conclusions. โฃNorthwestern University cardiology chief Dr. Clyde Yancy, who was notโ involved in the study, pointed out that โthe โขresearch didn’t โaccount for dosage or whether โparticipants were using melatonin under a doctor’s guidance.โ “Americansโค in the study might have used the supplements without it being recorded,” he said.
Furthermore, the quality and ingredients โคof melatonin supplements can โvary significantly,โ as โคthey aren’t subject to strict government approval in the U.S. Emory University’s Dr.โค Sandesara โขrecommends patients discuss melatonin use with theirโฃ doctors, noting โit’s generallyโ advised for short-term issues like jet lag.
Dr.Yancy emphasizedโข that the study โฃdoesn’t demonstrate aโฃ danger from long-term melatonin use, but also stated there’s currently no evidence supporting indefiniteโ use. He added that prioritizing good “sleep hygiene” – such as ensuringโ a dark bedroom andโข limiting exposure to blue light from screens at โnight – โฃremains a key strategy for better sleep. โ”When we exposeโฃ ourselves to blue light in particular at night, we areโ diminishing our melatoninโ levels. That’s science,” he said.โข “Sleep problems aren’t about ‘just beingโข sleepy and tired – โขthey’re putting yourself atโค risk.'”
The Associated Press Health and Science Department โคreceives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnsonโ Foundation. The AP isโค solely responsible for all content.
