Could Melatonin Increase the Risk of Heart Failure?

New research warns that melatonin could increase the risk of heart failure by 90%, citing an unpublished study set to be presented at the American Heart Association conference. Experts caution that the study only shows an association, not a causal relationship. "The study has given me more questions than answers," said Dr. Sujay Kansagra. Kansagra noted that insomnia or conditions that cause it, such as undiagnosed sleep apnea, could explain the results, making melatonin an 'innocent bystander.' The study analyzed health data from over 130,000 adults with insomnia, comparing those who had taken melatonin for at least a year with those for whom no intake was documented. Heart failure occurred in 4.6% of melatonin users compared to 2.7% of non-users. The likelihood of users being hospitalized for heart failure was more than 3.5 times higher, and the likelihood of dying from any other cause was twice as high. Lead researcher Dr. Ekenedilichukwu Nnadi said, "Some headlines were more alarming than the data actually supports," emphasizing that the results do not prove a causal relationship. Experts point out significant limitations: the study only captured prescription melatonin, lacked data on dosage and severity of insomnia, and the overall risk of heart failure was low. While melatonin can help restore sleep patterns, most experts agree it is not an effective treatment for insomnia and recommend safer, evidence-based approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy.