Melatonin may have adverse health effects, according to new study
Consistently taking melatonin supplements was associated with a higher risk of heart failure, according to a new preliminary study.
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.
What is melatonin and how does it work?
Melatonin is a natural hormone produced in our bodies that helps us regulate when we wake up and fall asleep. The pineal gland in our brains releases melatonin to signal it’s time to dial back activity for the day, shifting body temperature, mood and blood pressure into sleep mode.
A lot of Americans need help with this natural sleep process. About 10% of adults fit the criteria for insomnia, meaning they aren’t getting enough sleep, or quality sleep (adults should get between seven and eight hours). So they pop a melatonin pill at bedtime to help their brains jump-start calming down.
Melatonin may give short term relief to tossing and turning (it stays in your system about four or five hours). But physician guidelines say there’s not enough evidence to suggest melatonin supplements actually end chronic insomnia. And overall safety of the supplement has been unclear for years; in the U.S., melatonin is considered a dietary supplement. This means that it’s not regulated like a prescription or over-the-counter drug, as it is in other countries.
What should you do to fall asleep?
The study did not prove melatonin causes heart problems, but reflects new concerns about a supplement which has risen in use in recent years. Melatonin use increased among adults in the U.S. from 0.4% in 1999 to 2000 to 2.1% in 2017 to 2018, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Sleep deprivation can increase the risk of high blood pressure and heart attack, among other conditions, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
“While association we found raises safety concerns about the widely used supplement, our study cannot prove a direct cause-and-effect relationship,” Nnadi says. “This means more research is needed to test melatonin’s safety for the heart.”
So what should you do if you’re desperate to sleep? Chronic insomnia can be treated with cognitive behavioral therapy and experts also recommend shutting off bright screens when it’s time to wind down. Instead of scrolling, try reading or meditating to ignite your sleep cycle naturally and guarantee a quality rest.
