An intolerance to fructose can produce a number of symptoms, but night sweats isn’t one of them. In fact, diet rarely — if ever — causes you to sweat so profusely that you soak your pajamas or bedding. Instead, night sweats is likely the result of age, medications or medical conditions. Talk to your doctor to determine the exact cause of night sweats.
Fructose Intolerance
Fructose intolerance is a hereditary condition where the gastrointestinal tract is deficient in aldolase B, an enzyme responsible for the breakdown of this fruit sugar. Any time you eat or drink something with fructose or its derivatives, you suffer uncomfortable symptoms, such as vomiting, gas, diarrhea, bloating and abdominal pain. If your intolerance is severe, you may also experience irritability, jaundice, sleepiness and even convulsions. You’re not likely to suffer night sweats, regardless of how much fructose you take in.
Treatment
Treatment for this condition often revolves around dietary changes. You’ll need to eliminate all foods and beverages containing this fruit sugar. According to Katherine Zeratsky, a nutritionist writing for MayoClinic.com, this includes corn syrup, table sugar, powdered sugar, honey and sorbitol. You’ll also need to give up most sodas, flavored waters, fruit juices and fruit. A doctor or dietitian can help establish a diet that’s right for you.
Night Sweats
Night sweats, on the other hand, are most often associated with age, particularly in women. As women approach menopause, the hormonal changes can affect the function of the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that regulates body temperature. You’re also more apt to experience hot flashes, which is the real cause of the night sweats. Besides menopause, you can suffer night sweats as a result of prescription medications, such as antidepressants, antipyrectics and supplemental hormones. Hypoglycemic agents may be problematic as well. Although not as common as other factors, your night sweats may be the result of an underlying medical condition, including leukemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma and autonomic neuropathy, to name only a few.
Treatment
Treatment for night sweats depends largely on the cause. If associated with menopause, you may help reduce the occurrence by keeping the bedroom cool, removing blankets and dressing lightly. Other than, proper diagnosis is important to not only the prevention of night sweats but also the management of the condition causing the profuse nighttime sweating. It's especially important to talk to a doctor when the night sweats occur regularly, interrupt your sleep or are accompanied by fever and weight loss.
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