Vitamin B17, also known as laetrile, refers to an artificial form of amygdalin, a plant substance found in certain nuts, plants, and fruit seeds.
While commonly labeled as a vitamin, B17 lacks approval from the American Institute of Nutrition Vitamins and is not recognized as safe by the Food and Drug Administration (132).
Laetrile is sometimes used by individuals as a cancer treatment, although it remains controversial due to a lack of supportive research and potential severe side effects. Notably, the ingestion of vitamin B17 can lead to the production of cyanide, a poisonous and hazardous chemical.
In this discussion, we will explore vitamin B17, delving into its potential benefits, side effects, and identifying food sources containing this compound.
Vitamin B17 Definition:
Vitamin B17, also identified as laetrile, amygdalin, or scientifically as D-mandelonitrile-b-D-glucosido-6-b-D-glucoside, is a synthetic drug version of amygdalin. This naturally occurring substance is present in small doses in various nuts, plants, and seeds. Laetrile can be taken orally or administered through intravenous or intramuscular injection. Despite its common reference as vitamin B17, it does not meet the criteria of a vitamin.
In 1920, Dr. Ernst T. Krebs, Sr. proposed the potential effectiveness of amygdalin against cancer, later leading to the synthesis of a less harmful version called laetrile in 1952 by his son, Ernst T. Krebs, Jr. The latter chose to label it as vitamin B17 to circumvent FDA regulations applicable to medicines but not vitamins.
In 1977, the FDA issued a statement against laetrile, highlighting a lack of evidence regarding its safety and efficacy. Presently, the drug is manufactured in Mexico, and treatments are available in select United States clinics. However, laetrile remains unapproved and unregulated by the FDA, resulting in variations in purity and composition across different batches.
Despite limited evidence, some individuals may still contemplate using vitamin B17 for cancer treatment, often as part of metabolic therapy programs involving high vitamin doses, specific diets, and pancreatic enzymes.
Possible Benefits:
Research on vitamin B17 predominantly centers on its connection with cancer, while investigations into potential health benefits in other areas are scarce. Previous studies suggested potential benefits:
- Blood Pressure Reduction: An older study on individuals aged 40 to 65 found that amygdalin helped lower systolic blood pressure by 28.5% and diastolic blood pressure by 25%. However, the study’s low quality and absence of a control group warrant further research.
- Pain Relief: Earlier research on rats indicated potential pain-relieving effects of amygdalin. However, human-based evidence supporting its effectiveness as a pain reliever is lacking.
- Immunity Improvement: A 2020 study suggested that vitamin B17 might enhance immunity. Nevertheless, the research emphasized the need for additional evidence to substantiate this claim.
Further research on vitamin B17 is imperative to uncover potential health benefits, considering the dearth of exploration beyond cancer treatment and insufficient human-based evidence supporting health claims, likely stemming from potential adverse effects.
Side Effects:
Upon ingestion, vitamin B17 undergoes conversion into cyanide in the small intestine. Oral intake of 500 milligrams (mg) of amygdalin may contain up to 30 mg of cyanide, with cyanide poisoning having the potential to be fatal. The minimum lethal dose of cyanide is approximately 50 mg or 0.5 mg per kg of body weight.
Oral amygdalin appears roughly 40 times more potent than the intravenous form due to its conversion to cyanide in the gastrointestinal tract. Mild-to-moderate cyanide poisoning can manifest various symptoms, including headache, nausea, weakness, increased respiratory rate, eye and skin irritation. Severe cyanide poisoning symptoms encompass dizziness, blue skin coloring, liver damage, difficulty walking, confusion, coma, convulsions, cardiac arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, and death.
The side effects of vitamin B17 may exacerbate if an individual consumes raw almonds or crushed fruit pits, takes high doses of vitamin C, or consumes certain fruits and vegetables like bean sprouts, carrots, peaches, and celery.
B17 and Cancer:
Vitamin B17 has been employed as a cancer treatment since the 1800s, either independently or as part of multifaceted treatment programs. However, clinical trials involving animals and humans have failed to provide evidence supporting laetrile as an effective cancer treatment. Assertions of its efficacy largely stem from anecdotal evidence or unsupported opinions.
Some test-tube studies propose that laetrile may diminish tumor occurrence by influencing genes associated with their spread. Nevertheless, there is no evidence supporting the idea that vitamin B17 would yield the same effect within the human body. Human studies on vitamin B17 are scarce due to its unlikely efficacy, potential serious side effects, and the risk of cyanide poisoning.
Food Sources:
Amygdalin, the precursor compound to vitamin B17, can be found in various foods, including raw nuts like bitter almonds and the pips of fruits such as apricot kernels. Foods containing beta-glucuronidase or vitamin C may enhance the conversion of amygdalin to cyanide. Consequently, individuals taking laetrile tablets should refrain from consuming certain foods, including nuts, crushed fruit pits, raw almonds, carrots, apricots, peaches, celery, beans, bean sprouts, and flaxseed.
Summary:
In conclusion, vitamin B17, encompassing amygdalin and laetrile, is not genuinely a vitamin but a drug derived from plant substances. While some may consider using it for cancer treatment, there is no evidence supporting its efficacy, and its use is associated with potentially severe adverse effects.
Crucially, no human studies advocate for the effectiveness of vitamin B17 in cancer treatment, highlighting the risks of cyanide poisoning, particularly when taken orally in tablet form. Cyanide poisoning can lead to mild-to-severe side effects and may even result in fatality.