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Laetrile, sold as vitamin B17 or apricot kernel extract, was tested in a large National Cancer Institute study in the 1980s and did nothing against cancer. It releases cyanide in the gut, and people have been poisoned by it.
Amygdalin is a cyanogenic glycoside from apricot, peach and bitter almond kernels; laetrile is a semi-synthetic derivative. Proponents claimed it selectively killed cancer cells. A 1982 NCI-sponsored clinical study of 178 patients found no cure, stabilisation or symptom benefit and several patients with cyanide toxicity, and a 2015 Cochrane review found no randomised or controlled trials supporting any benefit. Oral amygdalin is hydrolysed by gut bacteria to hydrogen cyanide; combined with vitamin C or raw kernels the risk rises, and deaths and severe poisonings continue to be reported. It is banned from sale for cancer in the US and the EU but remains available online and in some clinics abroad. It is the archetype of the unproven cancer cure: plausible-sounding story, no evidence, real harm.
The claimed selective release of cyanide inside cancer cells by beta-glucosidase does not occur; cyanide is released systemically by gut flora.
Query for this technology: (TITLE:"Laetrile" OR ABSTRACT:"Laetrile" OR TITLE:"amygdalin, 'vitamin B17'" OR ABSTRACT:"amygdalin, 'vitamin B17'") AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about Laetrile (amygdalin, 'vitamin B17'), not a curated reading list.
Shares Unproven diet claims (alkaline, juice, 'anti-cancer' diets), Alternative medicine used instead of standard treatment, Evidence-based integrative oncology, Misinformation and unproven therapies and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
Shares Unproven diet claims (alkaline, juice, 'anti-cancer' diets), Alternative medicine used instead of standard treatment, Evidence-based integrative oncology, Misinformation and unproven therapies and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
Shares Unproven diet claims (alkaline, juice, 'anti-cancer' diets), Evidence-based integrative oncology, Misinformation and unproven therapies and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
Shares Evidence-based integrative oncology, Misinformation and unproven therapies and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
Shares Alternative medicine used instead of standard treatment, Evidence-based integrative oncology, Misinformation and unproven therapies and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
Shares Alternative medicine used instead of standard treatment, Misinformation and unproven therapies and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
Shares Evidence-based integrative oncology, Misinformation and unproven therapies and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
Shares Evidence-based integrative oncology, Misinformation and unproven therapies and the tags complementary, supportive-care.