Vitamin B12 deficiency is a problem that many people face in the world, however it is not highlighted as much. According to a 2019 study published in the Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in tier 3 cities of India was 47.19%. While it may be common, not many people know important signs of it. One such sign that shows up at night is, night sweats. Often missed or mistaken, a deficiency in vitamin B12 or vitamin B9 (folate) causes a type of anemia. This condition happens when your body produces red blood cells that are abnormally large and cannot work correctly. There are many missed or overlooked signs of vitamin B12 deficiency, a few of which show up at night or when you are sleeping. According to a 2015 study published in the Electronic Journal of General Medicine in some patients, the main signs of this deficiency were very severe drenching night sweats and extreme fatigue. Are Night Sweats A Sign of Vitamin B12 Deficiency? According to the Scottish Medical Journal, vitamin B12 deficiency is a common problem that can affect your nervous system in many ways. Sometimes, it can cause problems with your body's automatic functions, like sweating. The study dealt with three different cases where patients suffered from drenching night sweats (meaning they sweated heavily at night). Doctors believed the severe sweating was caused by their low vitamin B12 levels. After all three patients were treated with vitamin B12 shots, their night sweats and other symptoms improved dramatically and quickly. This suggests that intense night sweats can be a sign of a vitamin B12 shortage. Such cases were also noted in the 2015 study. A 57-year-old man was sent to a specialist because he had been struggling with severe night sweats for about three to four years. The sweating was so heavy that he had to change his bedsheets almost every night. Based on a key finding of high homocysteine levels—a sign that the body might not be using Vitamin B12 correctly, even if the vitamin's blood level was fine—doctors decided to try B12 treatment. He was given Vitamin B12 shots daily for one week, followed by monthly shots. The results were dramatic: the patient reported that his severe sweating started to clear up after just the second injection. Three months later, he was checked again and was completely symptom-free. The vitamin B12 injections fixed his long-standing sweating problem. Other Signs of Vitamin B12 Deficiency The symptoms of a vitamin B12 or folate deficiency can start slowly and get worse if not treated. While fatigue (feeling weak or tired) is common, the NHS highlights other important signs. According to the UK National Health Service (NHS), the symptoms of a vitamin B12 or folate deficiency can start slowly and get worse if not treated. While fatigue (feeling weak or tired) is common, other symptoms can feel like stress or anxiety, such as heart palpitations (a rapid or irregular heartbeat). The list of potential symptoms includes: Palpitations (fast, pounding heart)Rapid breathing or shortness of breathHeadachesIndigestion or loss of appetiteDiarrhoeaA sore or red tongue, sometimes with mouth ulcersProblems with visionCognitive changes (issues with memory, thinking, or judgmentA vitamin B12 deficiency can also cause symptoms that affect your nervous system (brain and nerves): Numbness or pins and needleMuscle weaknessPsychological problems like mild depression, anxiety, confusion, or even dementiaProblems with balance and coordinationIncontinence (loss of bladder control)What Foods Can Help You Tackle Vitamin B12 Deficiency? To help prevent a deficiency, make sure you include these foods in your diet: Meat and fishEggsDairy products (milk, cheese, etc.)Specially fortified foods (like certain breakfast cereals)
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