The Current How safe is melatonin for your heart?
Nov 6, 2025
In this insightful discussion, Dr. Elliott Lee, a sleep specialist at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre, addresses the growing concerns about melatonin and heart health. He emphasizes that insomnia might pose a greater risk than melatonin itself, urging listeners to not panic over headlines. Dr. Lee provides practical tips for better sleep, like establishing consistent wake times and minimizing screen exposure before bed. He also highlights when to seek treatment, recommending cognitive behavioral therapy for persistent insomnia.
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Association Is Not Causation
- The study linking long-term melatonin to heart failure is associative and not proof of causation.
- Dr. Elliott Lee cautions the result may reflect insomnia itself rather than melatonin use.
Melatonin May Be Heart-Protective
- Melatonin has mixed evidence, including data suggesting cardioprotective effects.
- Dr. Elliott Lee finds the study's result surprising given prior research showing possible heart benefits.
Treat One Study As Preliminary
- Take single studies about long-term sleep medication use with caution because long-term data are limited.
- Note short-term trials, including large doses for a month, have shown no clear adverse effects.