Millions Take This Popular Supplement - Scientists Discover a Concerning Link to Heart Failure

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A common sleep supplement may carry unexpected risks when used long-term.
Melatonin has long been marketed as a gentle, “natural” way to improve sleep. But new research is raising questions about what happens when people rely on it for years. A large international analysis of more than 130,000 adults with chronic insomnia found that those who used melatonin for over a year faced significantly higher risks of serious health problems.

Compared to non-users, long-term users had about an 89–90% greater risk of developing heart failure over five years (4.6% vs. 2.7%). They were also nearly 3.5 times more likely to be hospitalized for heart failure (19.0% vs. 6.6%) and almost twice as likely to die from any cause (7.8% vs. 4.3%).

Early Findings Raise Safety Questions
The findings, presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2025 in New Orleans, are preliminary and have not yet been peer-reviewed. They do not prove that melatonin causes harm, but they highlight a potential safety gap that researchers say needs urgent attention. “Melatonin 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 lead researcher Ekenedilichukwu Nnadi, M.D., of SUNY Downstate/Kings County Primary Care in Brooklyn, New York.

Melatonin itself is a hormone produced by the brain that helps regulate the body’s internal clock. Levels naturally rise in the evening and fall with daylight, signaling when it is time to sleep and wake. Supplements mimic this process and can help some people fall asleep faster, especially in cases of jet lag or short-term insomnia. In the United States and many other countries, melatonin is sold over the counter without strict regulation. That means people can take it without medical supervision, and products may vary in dose and purity. It has become one of the most widely used sleep aids in the country, now ranking among the most popular natural products taken by adults.

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