Cancer Living With Can Vitamin B17 (Amygdalin) Beat Cancer? By Cathy Wong facebook twitter Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health. Learn about our editorial process Cathy Wong Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Doru Paul, MD on December 01, 2019 Doru Paul, MD, is triple board-certified in medical oncology, hematology, and internal medicine. He is an associate professor of clinical medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College and attending physician in the Department of Hematology Oncology at the New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center. Learn about our Medical Review Board Doru Paul, MD Updated on December 06, 2019 Print Vitamin B17 is a commonly used name for a chemical called amygdalin. Typically sourced from apricot pits and bitter almonds, amygdalin is used to make laetrile (a compound said to aid in the treatment of cancer). Although they're frequently referred to as "vitamin B17," neither amygdalin nor laetrile is truly a B vitamin. Morsa Images / Digital Vision / Getty Images Uses Laetrile is often claimed to treat cancer naturally. It is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a treatment for cancer or any other medical condition. Some proponents of laetrile suggest that cancer occurs as a result of a vitamin deficiency. Such proponents claim that consumption of the so-called vitamin B17 can reverse this deficiency and, in turn, aid in the treatment or prevention of cancer. Laetrile is also purported to protect against conditions like high blood pressure and arthritis. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) states there is no evidence that laetrile is needed by the body or that laetrile can act as a vitamin in animals or humans. Sources Amygdalin is found naturally in raw nuts and in the pits of many fruits. It's also present in plants like lima beans, clover, and sorghum. Side Effects and Safety Concerns Amygdalin produces cyanide, which is a toxic substance. Cyanide is thought to be a primary cancer-fighting component of laetrile and amygdalin. It's said that the cyanide released into the body by these substances can kill off cancer cells. Developed in the United States in the 1950s, laetrile is claimed to act as a nontoxic form of amygdalin. Still, laetrile has been found to trigger a range of side effects similar to those of cyanide poisoning. Use of laetrile is associated with the following side effects: blue coloring of the skin, confusion, difficulty walking, dizziness, droopy upper eyelids, headache, liver damage, low blood pressure, nausea, nerve damage, and vomiting. Cyanide poisoning can be life-threatening and may result in death. According to the National Cancer Institute, use of laetrile is associated with increased risk of coma or death. There's concern that vitamin C may boost the amount of cyanide released from laetrile in the body and, as a result, lead to increased risk of toxicity. Research Claims that laetrile or amygdalin can benefit cancer patients are not supported by sound clinical data, according to a report published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews in 2015. For this report, scientists analyzed 69 previously published studies evaluating the supposedly anti-cancer effects and possible adverse effects of laetrile and amygdalin. However, none of these studies was found to be sufficiently rigorous to meet the reviewers' criteria. In their conclusion, the report's authors note that consumption of laetrile or amygdalin carries a considerable risk of serious adverse effects resulting from cyanide poisoning. To that end, the authors state "On the basis of the available data, there is neither scientific nor ethical justification for clinical trials with laetrile or amygdalin in the management of cancer at the moment." In several preliminary studies published in recent years, researchers have observed that amygdalin may possess some anti-cancer properties. These are seen in vitro, (in cell lines) or in animal models. One example is a study published in Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology in 2013, for instance, indicates that amygdalin may protect against cervical cancer. In tests on human cells, researchers observed that amygdalin may combat cervical cancer by inducing apoptosis (a type of programmed cell death essential for stopping the proliferation of cancer cells). Further research is needed before amygdalin can be recommended for the prevention or treatment of cancer. Alternatives While there's no known way to prevent cancer, certain practices may help lower your cancer risk. These practices include avoiding smoking and tobacco use, getting screened for precancerous conditions, following a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and maintaining a healthy weight. If you're thinking of using vitamin B17 for the prevention or treatment of cancer, it's crucial to consult your physician first. Self-treating and avoiding or delaying standard care can have serious consequences. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Limiting processed foods and red meats can help ward off cancer risk. These recipes focus on antioxidant-rich foods to better protect you and your loved ones. Sign up and get your guide! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. National Cancer Institute. Laetrile/Amygdalin (PDQ)—Patient Version. Updated April 5, 2018. National Cancer Institute. Laetrile/Amygdalin (PDQ)—Health Professional Version. Updated October 25, 2019. Milazzo S, Horneber M. Laetrile treatment for cancer. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;(4):CD005476. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005476.pub4 Song Z, Xu X. Advanced research on anti-tumor effects of amygdalin. J Cancer Res Ther. 2014 Aug;10 Suppl 1:3-7. doi:10.4103/0973-1482.139743 Chen Y, Ma J, Wang F, Hu J, Cui A, Wei C, Yang Q, Li F. Amygdalin induces apoptosis in human cervical cancer cell line HeLa cells. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 2013 Feb;35(1):43-51. doi:10.3109/08923973.2012.738688