Vitamin B-17 - Can a Vitamin Cure Cancer? The Story of Laetrile

Vitamin B-17 is naturally found in many foods, such as wild blackberries, as well as many other types of berries, grains such as millet and buckwheat, beans such as fava and mung beans, raw almonds, cashews, macadamia nuts, cassava, yams, and many more. The seeds inside peaches, apricots, nectarines and cherry pits are also high in vitamin B-17 and I eat them all the time.

On a molecular level, vitamin B-17 is from a family called nitrilosides, and is composed of 4 parts, which are 2 units of glucose, 1 unit of benzaldehyde, and 1 unit of cyanide. The unit of cyanide is trapped by the other 3 units and cannot be released. That's why I can eat the seed inside the pit of my nectarines and apricots with reckless abandon and live to tell the tale. However, there is only one situation where the cyanide unit can release the deadly toxin. That is when it comes in contact with the arch villain, an enzyme called beta-glucosadase. There is only one place in the human body that contains significant amounts of beta-glucosadase. CANCER CELLS! What's weird is the enzyme beta-glucosadase is the key that opens up the trap door to release the cyanide unit. It's almost like the cancer cell wants to commit suicide or something. In addition, the unit of benzaldehyde gets released as well, and it is also toxic to the cancer cell. The 2 substances together are about 100 times more toxic working together than either one individually. Now I just think this seems so miraculous, it's gotta be a God thing. But wait, it gets even better. Our bodies contain a back up protecting enzyme called rhodanese. Rhodanese has the ability to neutralize cyanide on contact and it even converts the cyanide into something that is beneficial to the whole body. There is only place in the human body where rhodanese is AWOL, and that is in the presence of cancer cells leaving the cancer cell defenseless against the cyanide and benzaldehyde toxins. WOW! I just think that is so amazing! What is that Bible verse...? Something about... 'I am fearfully and wonderfully made.'

The scientific research behind Vitamin B-17 is solid. It began in the early 1950's with an American physician and medical researcher named Dr. Ernest T. Krebs and his son Dr. Ernst T. Krebs Jr. For research purposes they developed a purified, synthesized version of vitamin B-17 and called it Laetrile. Widespread animal experimentation took place in numerous laboratories around the country during the 1950's and 1960's with excellent results. Other prominent physicians and researchers in other countries also began to research Laetrile. Dr Hans Nieper of Germany, Dr. Ernesto Contreras of Mexico, and Dr. Manuel Navarro of the Philippines.

By 1973 an American Dr. named Dr. Philip E. Binzel began treating his cancer patients with Laetrile combined with additional nutritional therapies. Soon other physicians followed, Dr. John A. Richardson, CA. and Dr. W. Douglas Brodie, NV. and many more.

Dr. Binzel treated his patients with Laetrile for 20 years and wrote a book documenting his experiences using the Laetrile protocol. His book is called, "Alive and Well, " and you can read it online for free.

Historically Laetrile has unfortunately been subjected to an unfair smear campaign. Normally I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but according to the research I've done the big pharmaceutical companies are in bed with organizations such as the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan-Ketterling, the AMA, the National Cancer Institute, and even the FDA. Chemo-therapy drugs are just too profitable to tolerate competition. The smear campaign has been so thorough and the suppression so complete that Laetrile has been mostly driven out of this country and into Mexico. Laetrile is pretty much illegal in this country. It's a Vitamin! The suppression of Laetrile has been documented thoroughly in a book called, "World Without Cancer," by G. Edward Griffin.

Laetrile as well as apricot kernels can only be purchased on the Internet, but it is illegal to advertise or make claims that it cures cancer. It can only be advertised as a health supplement.

In Dr. Binzel's book, "Alive and Well," he gives the detailed protocol on how he treated his cancer patients and is a must read for anyone considering using Laetrile. Also Dr. Ernesto Contreras treated his patients with Laetrile at his clinic in Mexico, (Oasis of Hope.) The following is a summary of their protocols as well as the approximate cost for each item. Both protocols routinely start with intravenous Laetrile in a clinical setting. However, for patients unable to travel to their clinics, the following is a summary of their protocols utilizing oral Laetrile pills. Dr. Binzel and Dr. Contreras differ on some things in the protocol, so I have made note of the differences.

The first thing that Dr. Binzel addresses with his patients is their diet. In fact, he has them correct their diet for 2 weeks prior to starting their treatment to optimize results. The diet is mostly a raw food vegan diet, although vegetable protein such as beans may be cooked.

Phase 1, the first 21 days.

Dr. Contreras recommends Laetrile 500 mg. tablets: 2 tablets three times a day with meals, 6 total. Cost: $84.00 for 100 count.

Vitamin B-15, (Pangamic Acid,): 1 capsule three times a day at the end of each meal, 3 total. Cost: $39.95 for 100 count.

Preven-ca capsules: 1 capsule with each meal, 3 total. Cost: $25.20 for 60 count. This is in the Dr. Contreras protocol only.

Megazyme Forte enzyme tablets: 3 tablets two hours after each meal, 9 total. Cost: $16.00 for 90 count. Dr. Binzel has his patients take only 2 tablets three times a day, 6 total.

Ester C tablets: 1 capsule 1000 mg. with each meal, 3 total. Cost: $14.99 for 120 count. Dr. Binzel has his patients build up to 6000 mg. per day.

Vitamin A & E emulsion drops: 5 drops in juice or water three times per day. Cost: $34.95 for 60cc, (1200 drops.)

Just Barley Green Juice: 1 teaspoon in juice three times a day. Cost: $13.58 for 40 grams. This is in the Dr. Contreras protocol only.

Shark Cartilage: 3 capsules with each meal, 9 total. Cost: $15.00 for 300 count. This is in the Dr. Contreras protocol only.

Vitamin E: One 400- unit gel-tab with lunch and one with dinner. Cost: $ $14.95 100 count.

AHCC (Active Hexose Correlated Compound): Two capsules with each meal. Cost: $32.00 for 60 count. This is in the Dr. Contreras protocol only.

Daily Complete liquid multivitamin Nutrient: 1 oz (two tablespoons) once daily with a meal. Essence Health Blend is an excellent source of the necessary vitamins for this protocol as well, and it includes iodine, a necessary nutrient to fight cancer. Cost: Essence Health Blend, $69.95 for a 4- month supply.

Apricot kernels: One apricot kernel for every 10 lbs of body weight. No more than 6 per hour or 30-35 per day is recommended. Cost: $12.95 for ½ lb. or 380 kernels. This is in the Dr. Contreras protocol only.

Phase 2, the following 3 months.

Decrease Laetrile 500mg tablets to 4 a day: 1 tablet with each meal, and 1 at bedtime.

Change Vitamin A & E drops to 10 drops in juice or water twice a day. Suspend for 2 months after 3 months of total use including the first 21 days.

Continue the rest of the protocol as directed in Phase 1

The key to using this protocol successfully is to be sure to take all the recommended supplements along with the Laetrile. Each one supports a specific important function. For example, the Megazyme Forte supplys enzymes called Trypsin and Chymotrypsin. These enzymes dissolve the protein lining of the cancer cell allowing white blood cells to attck the cancer cell. The Megazyme Forte also supplies zinc which transports the Laetrile to all the tissues. All of the vitamins and minerals boost the immune system allowing the body's natural cancer fighting defenses to work.The apricot kernels contain additional Vitamin's B-17 and B-15, as well as other important enzymes. It is also important to follow the dietary requirements of this protocol.

There is a clinic in Reno, NV. that offers intravenous Laetrile therapy:



Reno Integrative Medical Center

Suite B.

6110 Plumas

Reno, NV.

(775) 829-1009

http://www.renointegrative.com

There are many clinics in Mexico that also offer intravenous Laetrile therapy. Listed below is the clinic founded by Dr. Contreras.

Oasis of Hope Clinic

Tijuana, Mexico

(888) 500-4673

http://www.oasisofhope.com

Dr. Binzel successfully treated many patients using this protocol for 20 years. He is retired now but still consults with Dr's. and patients from time to time. His book, "Alive and Well," can be read online for free or you can also order you own copy.

Dr. Ernesto Contreras was still practicing medicine at the age of 88 when he passed away in 2003. His son Francisco is now the director of Oasis of Hope, the clinic his father founded.

Today, more and more courageous holistic Dr's. are quietly treating their cancer patients with the Laetrile protocol. Legally it can be prescribed if certain requirements are met, (ie. patient purchases the intravenous Laetrile privately and brings it to the Dr's. office.) I have been so inspired by both Dr. Binzel and Dr. Contreras because they both acted upon, and devoted their lives to their firm conviction that the Laetrile protocol truly is an effective treatment for cancer.

Author Laurie Bassart has much more valuable information about alternative cancer treatment on her website, [http://www.alternatives4cancer.com]. If you or someone you love is diagnosed with cancer, please, please just get the information. There really are non-toxic alternative cancer treatments that really do work! Take just a little time, maybe a week to just read a book or do research on the Internet. there is tons of information out there. GET INFORMED! It could save your life!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Laurie_Bassart/1018527



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7082664

The Problem Many People Find With Vitamin B17

With so many attempts to find a cure to cancer, vitamin B17 has been brought to the scientists' attention and it has remained a very debated issue for more than thirty years now. Extracted from apricot seeds and almonds, vitamin B17 is also known as amygdalin and laetrile due to its main components. Some people claim that eating several apricot seeds at each meal will actually prevent cancer development, but so far there are not enough conclusive data to label vitamin B17 as a cancer cure. Tests are still being made, even if amygdalin is presently an important component of lots of natural remedies and supplements meant to treat cancer.

In terms of chemical structure, vitamin B17 is a combination of two glucose molecules, but there is not enough evidence concerning the possible toxicity of high doses of amygdalin. Therefore, in case you are taking some form of vitamin B17 supplement, make sure that you don't take more than three grams per day, with the specification that the amount should be divided in three equal intakes. Under the name of laetrile, vitamin B17 has drawn the attention of the scientists ever since the last decades of the 19th century. Hence, modern tests and experiments definitely find a continuity in the effort to fight cancer.

The problem many people find with vitamin B17 is that it is pretty difficult to find it in a raw state, since apricot seeds are not a common product in regular stores. Therefore, natural extracts have actually been the ones to be taken as substitutes. Nevertheless if you stick to a very natural diet, you can crack the apricot seeds open and eat them, but, unfortunately in some countries it is pretty difficult to find these fruit all year round. On the other hand almonds could also be an important source of vitamin B17, and they are a lot easier to find; try to stick to these fruit when apricot seeds are not available.

Lots of articles and books have been published on the topic of vitamin B17, and its effects for human health and cancer prevention. Even for the most skeptical of users, apricot seeds for instance could be a natural source of lots of healthy components that ensure a good body functioning. The most pessimistic study results showed that, even after the completion of the treatment with vitamin B17, the test subjects revealed a deterioration of the cancer-related condition. Nevertheless, despite such controversies, the door remains open to debate and trials, since vitamin B17 has so far proved highly positive for one's health when the daily dosage was respected.

http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/the-problem-many-people-find-with-vitamin-b17-427379.html

Amygdalin B17 Tablets 100 Mg

Product Features

• Vitamin B17 Extracted from Apricot Seeds.
• Amygdalin B17 100 mg tablets.
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Product Description

Each Amygdalin B17 bottle contains 100 tablets. Each tablet containing 100 Mg of Amygdalin B17 obtained from Apricot Seeds

Vitamin B17 500mg

Product Features

• 500mg B17, 100 tablets per bottle
• Laetrile, Amygdalin
• Concentrated extract from apricot seeds

Product Description

Vitamin B17, 500mg is also known as laetrile, or amygdalin. The tablet form is the concentrated extract from the apricot seeds. For more information on the health benefits of vitamin B17, please visit our website at apricotsfromgod.info, and order the DVD "World Without Cancer", by G. Edward Griffin for only $5.00 from our site, here: http://shop.apricotsfromgod.info/World-Without-Cancer-by-G-Edward-Griffin-DVD-25.htm?categoryId=-1, or order the book by the same name.

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Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces
• ASIN: B004HPUJCI
• Item model number: 500 mg Tablets

How To Obtain Laetrile Or Vitamin B17

There are sources of laetrile (Vitamin B17) pills. However, most people take laetrile (Vitamin B17) in the form of apricot kernels. In the middle of a peach or apricot is a hard shell. If we break open the hard shell with a "nut cracker," pliers or hammer, we will find a small seed/kernel in the middle that looks like an almond. However, it is much softer than an almond and certainly does not taste like an almond. It is this seed that is rich in natural laetrile (Vitamin B17).

Most experts will recommend a daily dose of apricot kernels from between 24 kernels a day up to 40 kernels a day, spread throughout the day. For a person in remission, 16 apricot kernals a day should be used as a minimum. Other things rich in laetrile are millet grain and buckwheat grain. Breads made with these grains, however, generally do not contain a high percentage of millet or buckwheat or else they would be too hard.

Also, the seeds of berry plants, such as red raspberries and black raspberries are rich in laetrile (Vitamin B17). Red raspberries also have a second cancer killer in their seeds: Ellagic Acid, a phenolic. About four dozen foods have Ellagic Acid, but Red Raspberries have the highest concentration. Strawberries also have Ellagic Acid.

Of course, apricot kernels are the best source of laetrile (Vitamin B17). Those who do not yet have cancer might want to plant a few apricot or peach trees in their back yard for a long term source of laetrile (Vitamin B17). The kernels can be frozen while still in the shell.

The Dr. Philip Binzel list of foods that contain laetrile (Vitamin B17) include: apricot kernels, peach kernels, grape seeds, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, bean sprouts, lima beans and macadamia nuts (to name but a few).

http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/how-to-obtain-laetrile-or-vitamin-b17-819512.html

Vitamin B17 - What Is It?

Any type of searching around on the internet for cancer prevention will bring up results for vitamin B17. This usually puzzles people, because most people have never even heard of this B vitamin.

Sure, everyone has heard about B vitamins-many people even routinely take a Vitamin B Complex tablet every day that consists of the eight essential B vitamins. However, vitamin B17 is certainly not one of those in the Vitamin B Complex; nor is it one about which most people are even aware.

What is this B Vitamin?

Vitamin B17-which has a chemical name of laetrile--is basically the purified form of amygdalin. Amygdalin is a substance that is most prevalent in apricot seeds, though it is also present in some other foods.

It can be ingested either through eating apricot seeds (or, in much smaller amounts, by eating other foods which contain the substance). Or, it can be taken in pill form. Tablets are typically available in either 100mg or 500mg concentrations.

What is Vitamin B17 for?

Laetrile, or vitamin B17, can be used to prevent cancer. In stronger doses, people have reported that it has been quite successful in the treatment of cancer as well; however, this is not its main purpose. It is intended to be used as a cancer prevention measure.

It works by destroying all of the 'bad' cells that are present in your body. Scientists have proven that our bodies are continually making cancerous cells; taking vitamin B17 (laetrile) on a regular basis can work to rid the body of those cancerous cells.

How does it work?

Laetrile has a dangerous component-cyanide-locked away inside. The only way that can get unlocked and come out is if the laetrile comes into contact with a cancerous cell. Cancer cells have an enzyme that unlocks that cyanide, so to speak and the cyanide comes out and destroys the cancer cells. When the cyanide comes out, a neutralizing substance also comes out that prevents the cyanide from harming any nearby healthy cells.

By taking vitamin B17 daily, cancer cells never have a chance to develop because the laetrile destroys them too quickly.

So, it will make a lot of people interested to know that vitamin B17 comes from something completely natural-apricot seeds.

Preventing Cancer - Naturally

Yes,vitamin B-17 is a natural product, as its source is just a regular, everyday, common fruit. Apricot seeds are what make up vitamin B-17, that's it. This vitamin is a purified form of the substance that is found inside apricot seeds. This substance is called amygdalin, and it is what is used to create vitamin B-17.

That makes taking vitamin B-17 to prevent cancer completely natural. When you take these vitamin tablets which are available in either 100mg or 500mg strength, you can be confident in knowing that you are taking a natural product.

Apricot Seeds? Really?

It may seem rather strange, but this is, indeed, where vitamin B17 comes from. There's good reasoning behind this,it wasn't done arbitrarily by some vitamin manufacturer. Apricot seeds contain amygdalin. Amygdalin has cyanide locked away, ready to battle cancer and this cyanide can only be unlocked by a cancer cell because only those cells have the special unlocking enzyme. Once unlocked, the cyanide kills the cancer cell. Nearby cells aren't harmed because a neutralizing agent is released with the cyanide to protect those cells.

Once this was discovered, a biochemist studied the substance and learned how to purify it. Then, in 1952, amygdalin was given its vitamin status based (at least partly) upon recommendation from the co-founder of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Today, the NCI doesn't readily acknowledge the benefits of vitamin B17, though.

Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/vitamin-b17-what-is-it-561737.html#ixzz1Y0byNIZf
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Vitamin B17-Amygdalin

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

IUPAC name

[(6-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy](phenyl)acetonitrile

Amygdalin (from Greek: ἀμυγδάλη amygdálē “almond”), C20H27NO11, is a glycoside initially isolated from the seeds of the tree Prunus dulcis, also known as bitter almonds, by Pierre-Jean Robiquet and A. F. Boutron-Charlard in 1830, and subsequently investigated by Liebig and Wöhler in 1830. Several other related species in the genus of Prunus, including apricot (Prunus armeniaca) and black cherry (Prunus serotina), also contain amygdalin.

Since the early 1950s, a modified form of amygdalin has been promoted under the names laetrile and "Vitamin B17" as a cancer cure, but it is not a vitamin, and studies have found it to be ineffective and potentially toxic as a possible cause of cyanide poisoning. The promotion of laetrile to treat cancer has been described in the scientific literature as a canonical example of quackery, with Irving Lerner of the University of Minnesota describing it as "the slickest, most sophisticated, and certainly the most remunerative cancer quack promotion in medical history."

Chemistry

Amygdalin is extracted from almond or apricot kernel cake by boiling in ethanol; on evaporation of the solution and the addition of diethyl ether, amygdalin is precipitated as white minute crystals. Liebig and Wöhler were already able to find three decomposition products of the newly discovered amygdalin: sugar, benzaldehyde, and prussic acid (hydrogen cyanide). Later research showed that sulfuric acid decomposes it into D-glucose, benzaldehyde, and prussic acid; while hydrochloric acid gives mandelic acid, D-glucose, and ammonia.

The decomposition induced by enzymes may occur in two ways. Maltase partially decomposes it, giving D-glucose and mandelic nitrile glucoside, C6H5CH(CN)O·C6H11O5; this compound is isomeric with sambunigrin, a glucoside found by E.E. Bourquelot and Danjou in the berries of the Common Elder, Sambucus nigra. Emulsin, on the other hand, decomposes it into benzaldehyde, cyanide, and two molecules of glucose; this enzyme occurs in the bitter almond, and consequently the seeds invariably contain free cyanide and benzaldehyde. An "amorphous amygdalin" is said to occur in the cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus). Closely related to these glucosides is dhurrin, C14H17O7N, isolated by W. Dunstan and T. A. Henry from the common sorghum or "great millet," Sorghum vulgare; this substance is decomposed by emulsin or hydrochloric acid into D-glucose, cyanide, and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde.

Natural amygdalin has the R configuration at the chiral benzyl center. Under mild basic conditions, this stereogenic center epimerizes; the S epimer is called neoamygdalin.

Laetrile

 

Laetrile (CAS No. 1332-94-1)

Amygdalin is sometimes confused with laevomandelonitrile, also called laetrile for short; however, amygdalin and laetrile are different chemical compounds. Laetrile, which was patented in the United States, is a semi-synthetic molecule sharing part of the amygdalin structure, while the "laetrile" made in Mexico is usually amygdalin, the natural product obtained from crushed apricot pits, or neoamygdalin.

Laetrile has a melting point of 214 to 216 degrees Celsius. Its Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number is 1332-94-1 and its International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry nomenclature name is (2S,3S,4S,5R,6R)-6-[(R)-cyano(phenyl)methoxy]-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxane-2-carboxylic acid. Laetrile's chemical formula is C14H15NO7 and its PubChem number is 5484354. Its molecular weight is 309.2714 grams/mole. Laetrile is also classified as a cyanogenic glycoside.

Though it is sometimes sold as "Vitamin B17", it is not a vitamin. Amygdalin/laetrile was claimed to be a vitamin by chemist Ernst T. Krebs in the hope that if classified as a nutritional supplement it would escape the federal legislation regarding the marketing of drugs. He could also capitalise on the public fad for vitamins at that time.

Toxicity

The metabolism of amygdalin produces hydrogen cyanide, a potent toxin. Beta-glucosidase, one of the enzymes that catalyzes the release of cyanide from amygdalin, is present in the human small intestine and in a variety of common foods. This leads to an unpredictable and potentially lethal toxicity when amygdalin or laetrile is taken orally. Ingestion of purified amygdalin or apricot seeds can cause severe toxicity and death due to cyanide poisoning. Numerous case reports in the medical literature describe serious cyanide poisoning in patients who ingested laetrile as a cancer treatment. Blood cyanide concentrations may be measured as a means of confirming the diagnosis in hospitalized patients or to assist in the forensic investigation of a fatal overdose.

Some laetrile promoters have claimed that the cyanide generated by laetrile is harmlessly detoxified by the mitochondrial enzyme rhodanese. However, these claims are false, as regardless of the level of rhodanese present, the body's available stores of cystine, cysteine, and other sulfates necessary to detoxify cyanide are rapidly depleted in laetrile poisoning.

Cancer treatment

Amygdalin was first isolated in 1830. In 1845 it was used as a cancer treatment in Russia, and in the 1920s in the United States, but it was considered too poisonous. In the 1950s, a purportedly non-toxic, synthetic form was patented for use as a meat preservative, and later marketed as laetrile for cancer treatment.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration prohibited the interstate shipment of amygdalin and laetrile in 1977. Thereafter, 27 U.S. states legalized the use of amygdalin within those states.

Initial studies at Sloan-Kettering

In 1972, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) board member Benno C. Schmidt, Sr. convinced the hospital to test laetrile so that he could assure others of its ineffectiveness "with some conviction." Kanematsu Sugiura, the scientist who performed the requested tests, found that laetrile inhibited secondary tumors in mice, though it did not destroy the primary tumors. He repeated the experiment several times with the same results. However, three other researchers were unable to confirm Sugiura's results. While these uncontrolled and inconclusive results were considered too preliminary to publish, they were leaked to laetrile advocates, resulting in significant public attention.

To expand on Sugiura's results, MSKCC researchers conducted a controlled experiment in which they injected some mice with laetrile (as Sugiura had done) and others with placebo. Sugiura, who was unaware of which mice had received laetrile, performed the pathologic analysis. In this controlled, blinded follow-up of Sugiura's initial uncontrolled experiment, laetrile showed no more activity than placebo.

Subsequently, laetrile was tested on 14 tumor systems without evidence of effectiveness. Given this collection of results, MSKCC concluded that "laetrile showed no beneficial effects." Mistakes in the MSKCC press release were highlighted by a group of laetrile proponents led by Ralph Moss, former public affairs official of MSKCC who was fired following his appearance at a press conference accusing the hospital of covering up the benefits of laetrile. These mistakes were considered scientifically inconsequential, but Nicholas Wade in Science stated that "even the appearance of a departure from strict objectivity is unfortunate." The results from these studies were published all together.

Subsequent clinical studies

A 2006 systematic review by the Cochrane Collaboration concluded: "The claim that laetrile has beneficial effects for cancer patients is not supported by data from controlled clinical trials. This systematic review has clearly identified the need for randomised or controlled clinical trials assessing the effectiveness of [l]aetrile or amygdalin for cancer treatment." Given the lack of evidence, laetrile has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The U.S. National Institutes of Health evaluated the evidence separately and concluded that clinical trials of amgydalin showed little or no effect against cancer. For example, a 1982 trial of 175 patients found that tumor size had increased in all but one patient. The authors reported that "the hazards of amygdalin therapy were evidenced in several patients by symptoms of cyanide toxicity or by blood cyanide levels approaching the lethal range."

The study concluded "Patients exposed to this agent should be instructed about the danger of cyanide poisoning, and their blood cyanide levels should be carefully monitored. Amygdalin (Laetrile) is a toxic drug that is not effective as a cancer treatment".

Advocacy and legality

Although laetrile is widely considered quackery in the medical community, advocates for laetrile dispute this label, asserting that there is a conspiracy between the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the pharmaceutical industry and the medical community, including the American Medical Association and the American Cancer Society, to exploit the American people, and especially cancer patients. Some North American cancer patients have traveled to Mexico for treatment with the substance, allegedly under the auspices of Dr. Ernesto Contreras. One of these patients was actor Steve McQueen, who died in Mexico following cancer treatment with laetrile and surgery to remove a stomach tumour while undergoing treatment for mesothelioma.

Laetrile advocates in the United States include Dean Burk (now deceased), a former chief chemist of the National Cancer Institute cytochemistry laboratory, and national arm wrestling champion Jason Vale, who claimed that his kidney and pancreatic cancers were cured by eating apricot seeds. Vale was convicted in 2003 for, among other things, marketing laetrile. The court also found that Vale, who had made at least $500,000 from his illegal sales of laetrile, had fraudulently marketed the substance.

The US Food and Drug Administration continues to seek jail sentences for vendors marketing laetrile for cancer treatment, calling it a "highly toxic product that has not shown any effect on treating cancer."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amygdalin