Long-Term Melatonin⁤ Use Linked to Significantly Increased Risk of‍ Heart​ Failure, Death, New‍ Study Finds

PARIS – A new study is raising serious​ concerns about the long-term safety​ of⁣ melatonin, a widely used and often perceived “natural” sleep aid.⁢ Researchers ‍have found that ⁣adults taking ⁤melatonin for 12 months or ‍more face ‍a⁤ nearly 90% greater risk⁣ of developing⁤ heart failure over the next five years, alongside substantially ⁤increased risks of⁣ hospitalization and all-cause mortality. ​The findings,while preliminary and awaiting peer ‍review,challenge the prevailing assumption ​of melatonin’s harmlessness and are prompting calls for caution regarding its chronic use.

For years, melatonin has been ⁢embraced as a safe and⁣ accessible solution for sleep ⁤disturbances,⁣ readily available as an ‍over-the-counter supplement. Though, this new ‍research suggests a potential dark side to prolonged use, ⁣revealing a statistically⁢ critically important link between ‌long-term melatonin intake and severe cardiovascular ⁣consequences. ‌The study’s results indicate that ‌individuals consistently using melatonin experienced⁤ a 4.6% rate of heart failure ⁢advancement compared to 2.7% in non-users, a difference that researchers say ⁢warrants further investigation.

The study also revealed alarming increases in adverse outcomes among long-term melatonin users: ‌a ⁤3.5 times higher likelihood of hospitalization for heart failure (19.0% vs.6.6%) and nearly‍ double the risk of death from all‍ causes (7.8%⁤ versus 4.3%). ⁤These findings are particularly striking given melatonin’s widespread availability and⁣ the belief that it poses minimal health risks.

“People should‌ know that melatonin ​should not⁣ be taken‍ chronically without proper indication,” stated Dr. Ekenedilichukwu Nnadi,⁢ who led the study. He expressed surprise at the “consistent⁣ and significant⁢ increase in serious health problems,” ​even after‍ accounting for other ‍established risk factors.

Marie-Pierre saint-Onge, president of the drafting group for the 2025 scientific declaration of ⁣the American Heart ⁢Association on sleep and cardiometabolic​ health, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that “people need⁢ to know that [melatonin] should not‍ be taken chronically without appropriate⁢ indication.”

While​ the‌ study ‍has not yet undergone peer review, and researchers ‍caution that it demonstrates a statistical association rather‌ than ⁣definitive causation, the results are prompting a reevaluation⁣ of​ melatonin’s safety profile. Further research is planned to confirm⁤ these initial findings and determine the specific mechanisms⁤ by which long-term melatonin use ⁢may impact cardiovascular health.