Use of melatonin supplements and risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in the USA: insights from three prospective cohort studies
Authors' conclusion
With up to 23 years of follow-up of three large prospective cohorts of middle-aged and older men and women, self-reported melatonin supplement use was not associated with risk of type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease. Further research is warranted to assess if melatonin supplement use could mitigate the potential risks of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease associated with rotating night shift work.
Study context
- Population
- Women aged 25–55 y and men aged 45–75 y at baseline without cancer, CVD or T2D at baseline, from the Nurses' Health Study, Health Professionals Follow-up Study and Nurses' Health Study II (USA)3 cohorts
- Exposure
- Melatonin supplement users vs non-users
- Outcome
- Incidence of CVD and T2D (main outcomes)
Methodological detailsthree US prospective cohorts, pooled analysis, multivariable-adjusted
- Three US prospective cohorts
- Pooled analysis
- Multivariable-adjusted
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Each group vs non-usersEstimate (95% CI)P value
Users
pooled multivariable-adjusted HR (CVD) 0.94(0.83–1.06)
P = 0.32Users
pooled multivariable-adjusted HR (T2D) 0.98(0.86–1.12)
P = 0.80- Incident CVD events
- 16 917 during 2 609 068 person-years
- Incident T2D cases
- 12 730 during 2 701 830 person-years
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
CVD by duration of rotating night shift work (>5 years), female nurses
- Melatonin use appeared to attenuate the positive association between long-term shift work and CVD risk
- P for interaction = 0.013
Melatonin supplement use prevalence · 1998-2007 to 2014-15
- Use doubled from less than 2% to 4% or higher
- 4.0% in men and 5.3% in women
Original publication
Use of melatonin supplements and risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in the USA: insights from three prospective cohort studies. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. Published 3 May 2024. doi:10.
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