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RESEARCH

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A study has linked the prolonged consumption of melatonin to the risk of heart disease

A paper presented by the American Heart Association has generated controversy among experts by suggesting that taking melatonin supplements for more than a year can increase the risk of heart failure. Specialists have called for calm and recalled that products sold in pharmacies without a prescription do not go up by two milligrams.

In recent years, the use of melatonin additives to combat insomniahas been widespread. In the form of pills or gummies, they are available in medical pharmacies without a prescription, provided that the dose does not exceed two milligrams.

Now, a study by cardiologists in the United States has sparked intense controversy. People who take melatonin for a long time (at least one year) are said to be at greater risk of developing heart failure, going to hospital for that reason, and dying from similar causes.

The work, which has continued for five years for 130,000 insomnia adults, found that melatonin users were 90% more likelyto suffer from heart failure, yet the authors stress that the study does not show that there is a causal relationship, and recall that the results are preliminary, as they have not yet been reviewed or published in a scientific journal.

Researchers say the purpose of the study is to expand reflection on the safety of an additive considered "natural and safe." "It was surprising to see such a steady and significant increase in serious health problems," said study author Ekenedilichukwu Nadi.

The president of the Federation of Sleep Medicine Associations, Carlos Egea, has called for "no urgent decisions to be taken" and has stressed that "more studies are needed to have a broader perspective." In the same vein, other experts have recalled that the work is limited and that the doses used by participants are not clearly defined.

However, the experts agree that it is best to be cautious and follow the doctor's instructions before eating melatonin, especially for a long time.

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