Should You Rethink Your Melatonin Habit? What a New Heart Study Really Means

If you’re one of the millions of people who reach for a melatonin gummy most nights, a new study making headlines this week might have you double-checking your nightstand. Research presented by the American Heart Association found that adults with chronic insomnia who took melatonin long-term (more than a year) had a roughly 90% higher risk of developing heart failure over five years compared to non-users. Hospitalization for heart failure occurred in 19% of long-term melatonin users, versus 6.6% of those who didn’t use it.

That’s a striking number, and it’s understandable if it gives you pause. But before you toss your supplement bottle, let’s talk about what this study actually shows, what it doesn’t, and what to do with that information.

What the Study Found — and What It Didn’t

Researchers reviewed electronic health records for more than 130,000 adults diagnosed with insomnia, comparing outcomes for those who used melatonin chronically against those who didn’t. The association was strong enough to make cardiologists sit up and take notice.

But here’s the important caveat: this is an observational study, and it hasn’t yet been published as a full peer-reviewed paper (it was presented as a research abstract). That means it can show a correlation, not prove that melatonin causes heart failure. A few things could be muddying the picture:

People who need melatonin long-term may already have more disrupted sleep, more chronic stress, or underlying health conditions that independently raise heart failure risk.

Poor sleep itself, chronic insomnia, is already a well-established risk factor for cardiovascular problems. It’s possible the insomnia is driving the association, not the melatonin.

Some early symptoms of heart failure, like fatigue and shortness of breath at night, can masquerade as sleep trouble, meaning some people may have already had undiagnosed heart issues before they started supplementing.

In other words, this is a signal worth paying attention to, not a verdict.

What This Means for You

As a nutrition professional, I think this study is a great reminder that “natural” doesn’t automatically mean “risk-free,” especially when a supplement is used nightly for years rather than occasionally for jet lag or a rough patch of sleep. A few practical takeaways:

Treat melatonin like the hormone it is, not a vitamin. Short-term or occasional use for things like travel is very different from taking it every night for years without medical guidance.

If sleep has been a long-standing struggle, loop in a doctor. Chronic insomnia deserves an actual investigation into the “why,” whether that’s stress, hormones, sleep apnea, or something else, rather than a nightly supplement as a permanent fix.

Build the sleep foundation first. Consistent bed and wake times, a cool and dark room, dimming screens an hour before bed, and a calming wind-down routine (herbal tea, light stretching, journaling) all support your body’s natural melatonin production without needing to supplement it.

Look at your evening nutrition. Heavy or high-sugar meals close to bedtime, excess caffeine and alcohol, and inconsistent meal timing can all disrupt sleep quality, often more than people realize.

If you already take melatonin regularly and it’s working well for you, this study isn’t a reason to panic. It’s a reason to have an honest conversation with your healthcare provider about whether it’s still the right long-term tool, especially if you have any personal or family history of heart disease.

The Bottom Line

Good sleep is one of the most powerful levers we have for overall health, and it makes sense that so many people reach for melatonin to get more of it. This new research doesn’t mean melatonin is dangerous for everyone, but it’s a nudge to treat long-term supplement use the way we’d treat any other health intervention: intentionally, with medical input, and alongside the daily habits that support sleep naturally.

If sleep has been a struggle for you, we’d love to help you look at the full picture, from your evening routine to your plate. Reach out and let’s talk about a sustainable approach that works for your body.

Sources

Long-term melatonin use linked to 90% higher heart failure risk – ScienceDaily: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260829035228.htm

Long-term use of melatonin supplements to support sleep may have negative health effects – American Heart Association Newsroom: https://newsroom.heart.org/news/long-term-use-of-melatonin-supplements-to-support-sleep-may-have-negative-health-effects

Does Taking Melatonin Raise Your Risk of Heart Failure? – Northwestern Medicine: https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/does-taking-melatonin-raise-your-risk-of-heart-failure

Should you worry about melatonin and heart failure? The evidence isn’t clear – The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/should-you-worry-about-melatonin-and-heart-failure-the-evidence-isnt-clear-269131