Here's what to know about a study that raises questions about melatonin use and heart health
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The label for a bottle of melatonin pills is seen in New York on Thursday, June 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Patrick Sison, File) WASHINGTON (AP) — Don’t lose sleep over headlines linking melatonin to heart failure. That’s the message after some scary-sounding reports about a preliminary study involving the sleep-related supplement. It raised questions about the safety of long term use of melatonin for insomnia. Doctors have long known that too little or interrupted sleep raises the risk of heart disease.
AI Summary
Main Idea: A preliminary SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University study raised questions about long-term melatonin use and heart health, but experts say it does not prove the supplement causes heart failure.
Key Points:
- The study looked at adults with insomnia who had used prescribed melatonin for at least a year.
- Over five years, chronic melatonin users in the study had more heart failure cases than insomnia patients with no recorded melatonin use.
- Doctors said the research is only observational, so it cannot show that melatonin caused the heart problems.
- Experts said melatonin is still often used short term, and people worried about it should talk with a doctor instead of stopping on their own.
Impact on the People
Negative Impact
The study could worry people who use melatonin for sleep, and it may cause some to question long-term supplement use.
Positive Impact
The study may push patients and doctors to review sleep habits and use melatonin more carefully, which could improve safer care.
How did each entity affect people?
Rate how each entity in this article affected the American people.
- Major:SUNY Downstate Health Sciences Universityeducational / research institution
Candidate Entities6 candidates · 5 weighted vote min · 70% decision
- SUNY Downstate Health Sciences Universityeducational / research institutionMajorEvaluated
Research institution behind the preliminary study central to the article.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold - Dr. Clyde YancypersonMajorAI selected
Named Northwestern University cardiology chief quoted prominently to explain the study’s limits and implications.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold - American Heart Associationnonprofit / NGOContextCandidate
The meeting where the study is being presented is mentioned as the venue for its early disclosure.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold - Dr. Pratik SandesarapersonContextCandidate
Named cardiologist quoted to caution readers against overreacting to the melatonin study.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold - Emory Healthcareeducational / research institutionMinorCandidate
Sandesara’s affiliated health system, mentioned as part of his identification.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold - Northwestern Universityeducational / research institutionMinorCandidate
Yancy’s affiliated university, mentioned as part of his identification.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold
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