A new study has linked prolonged use of melatonin supplements to an increased risk of heart failure and hospitalization.
Researchers reviewed five years of health data from more than 130,000 adults with insomnia and found that those who used melatonin for at least a year were nearly 90% more likely to develop heart failure than non-users.
The study, to be presented at an upcoming meeting of the American Heart Association, also found that melatonin users were 3.5 times more likely to be hospitalized for heart failure. Experts say melatonin, often seen as a safe, “natural” sleep aid, should not be taken chronically without medical guidance, noting that over-the-counter supplements vary widely in strength and purity.
Click through to learn more about melatonin’s effects on the body, and tips for safer ways to stimulate your body’s built-in melatonin production.