We explored how vitamin B12, specifically methylcobalamin, could help treat persistent sleep-wake disorders in adolescents. In this study, two patients—a 15-year-old girl with delayed sleep phase syndrome and a 17-year-old boy with hypernychthemeral syndrome—struggled with sleep issues that significantly impacted their daily lives and school attendance.
Upon administration of high doses of methylcobalamin (3,000 micrograms per day), we observed immediate improvements in their sleep-wake patterns. Notably, the girl's sleep duration reduced from ten hours to seven, while her sleep onset time shifted from 2 a.m. to midnight. The boy’s sleep-wake cycle also improved, with a decrease in the cycle duration from 24.6 hours to 24 hours.
Interestingly, neither patient showed any signs of vitamin B12 deficiency, and their serum B12 levels were in the normal range or higher during treatment. This suggests that high-dose vitamin B12 might play a role in resetting and improving sleep-wake schedules in these adolescents, linking to the circadian rhythms that govern sleep.
While more research is needed, these findings present a promising perspective on how vitamin B12 may help alleviate certain insomnia symptoms in young people.