laetrile vitamin b17

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From Dough to DNA

Laetrile / Amygdalin / Vitamin B17 / Sarcarcinase / Nitriloside
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The role of your cancer health professional is to create an
environment of openness and trust, and to help in making informed
decisions about alternative/ complementary therapies. Collaboration
will improve the safe integration of all therapies during your
experience with cancer. The "Summary" and "Professional Evaluation/
Critique" sections of this Unconventional Therapies manual are cited
directly from the medical literature, and are intended to help in the
objective evaluation of alternative/ complementary therapies.

Summary

In 1980, the National Cancer Institute began a clinical study of
laetrile in terminal cancer patients. "Conducted in collaboration with
four major U.S. medical centers, the clinical tests showed that
laetrile failed on four counts: it did not make cancer regress; it did
not extend the life span of cancer patients; it did not improve cancer
patients' symptoms; and it did not help cancer patients to gain weight
or otherwise become more physically active. Laetrile and natural
products containing it, such as apricot pits were thus found to be
'ineffective as a treatment for cancer.'" (Tyler)

"Moreover, laetrile has been banned by the FDA because of the risk of
poisoning from its cyanide content." (Fetrow)

Description/ Source/ Components

Although not chemically identical, amygdalin and Laetrile are terms
frequently used interchangeably. Both belong to a family of compounds
called cyanogenic glycosides.

"It is also sometimes referred to as vitamin B17, although it is
definitely not a vitamin." (Tyler)

"It is obtained from the kernels of apricots, peaches, plums,
cherries, nectarines, apples, and almonds." (Fetrow)

"Amygdalin occurs naturally in a number of plant materials; however,
the usual commercial source is the kernel of various varieties of
Prunus armeniaca L. (family Rosacea), commonly referred to as apricot
pits. These vary appreciably in there amygdalin or laetrile content,
which may reach 8 percent, but the kernels of some wild varieties
contain twenty times as much as those of cultivated varieties of
apricots." (Tyler)

"Laetrile is a poisonous chemical found in the kernels of some fruits
and nuts." (Ontario)

"Laetrile (amygdalin) is a cyanogenic glycoside that was proposed for
cancer treatment on the basis that it would be broken down by an
enzyme in cancerous tissue to liberate cyanide which would 'kill the
cancer'." (Jukes)

"Amygdalin is a naturally occurring cyanogenic glycoside, which can be
cleaved by sweet almond beta-glucosidase to yield free cyanide."
(Syrigos)

Amygdalin, when extracted from oil of bitter almonds, yields 2 units
of glucose, 1 unit of benzaldehyde, and 1 unit of hydrogen cyanide.
(White)

"Laetrile is most commonly given intravenously for two to three weeks.
This treatment is followed by oral doses for maintenance therapy."
(Ontario)

History

Amygdalin, perhaps first documented by Dioscorides of Anazarbos 2,000
years ago, is usually administered in the form of bitter almonds.
(Moertel)

It was "rediscovered" in 1920 by a California physician, Ernest Krebs
while experimenting with flavourings for bootleg whisky. His son, Dr.
Ernest Krebs, Jr. claimed to have purified it and coined the name
Laetrile in 1952. (Dunlop)

"Laetrile was developed by Ernst T. Krebs, Sr., MD, and his son Ernst
T. Krebs, Jr., and was first used to treat cancer patients in
California in the 1950s." (Hafner)

"The Committee for Freedom of Choice in Medicine is the political arm
of several interlocking corporations promoting and/or marketing
questionable remedies for cancer and other serious disease. Operating
during the 1970s as the Committee for Freedom of Choice in Cancer
Therapy, the organization fought for legalization of Laetrile and
claimed to have many members. Today the committee appears to be a
small group whose principal activities are speeches and press
conference by its leaders, protests to government agencies, and
publication of a small circulation newsletter." (CA 1993)

"Lacking any proof of safety and efficacy, the Food and Drug
Administration banned laetrile from interstate commerce in 1971.
However, several state legislatures, reacting to political pressures,
legalized intrastate sale and use of the product. In 1980, similar
pressures forced the National Cancer Institute to begin a clinical
study of laetrile in terminal cancer patients." (Tyler)

"...its 1970 popularity waned even before the 1982 publication of a
Mayo Clinic investigation showing its ineffectiveness." (Cassileth)

Proponent/ Advocate Claims

"The noted biochemist Ernest Krebs, Jr., PhD., first specifically
identified amygdalin as an anticancer agent. His discovery was based
on a theory that cancer grows from misplaced trophoblast cells; these
are cells found in a pregnant human uterus that multiply rapidly
during the first few weeks after conception. Under normal, healthy
conditions, trophoblast cells are destroyed by the pancreatic enzyme,
chymotrypsin. If they escape destruction, they can lodge in the embryo
and remain there, dormant, for decades, waiting to develop into a
tumor when the pancreas becomes dysfunctional." (Diamond)

Laetrile advocates advance two theories:

1. Cyanide Release Theory

"Advocates of laetrile therapy for cancer believe that an enzyme,
beta-glucosidase, capable of breaking down the laetrile to release
toxic cyanide, exists in large amounts in tumorous tissue but only
in small quantities in the rest of the body. They further
hypothesize that another enzyme, rhodanese (sic), which has the
ability to detoxify cyanide, is present in normal tissues but
deficient in cancer cells. These two factors supposedly combine to
effect a selective poisoning of cancer cells by the cyanide
released from the laetrile, while normal cells and tissues remain
undamaged." (Tyler)

Beta-glucosidase, an enzyme occurring in malignant neoplasms, was
believed to release sufficient amounts of hydrogen cyanide from
Laetrile to stop tumour respiration and thus destroy cancerous
tissue. (Levi)

2. Vitamin Deficiency Theory

Cancer is a vitamin deficiency disease, and Laetrile is the
missing "vitamin B17". (Martin 1983)

Professional Evaluation/ Critique

"The National Cancer Institute (NCI) sponsored an independent study of
Laetrile with cancer patients. Fifty-four percent of the 178 patients
had measurable cancer progression after 21 days of intravenous
treatment with Laetrile. After 3 months, 91 percent had disease
progression, and after 7 months, all patients' tumors had grown
larger. Very few patients reported any change in their symptoms. Half
of all patients in the study died within 5 months after starting
treatment; within 8 months, 85 percent were dead." (National Cancer
Institute)

"NCI tested Laetrile in laboratory animals several times but found no
convincing evidence that it is effective against animal cancers."
(National Cancer Institute)

"Consumption of peach kernels is potentially fatal, and there are no
valid clinical studies documenting the effectiveness of hydrocyanic
acid in the prevention or treatment of cancer. The potential risks
associated with the consumption of peach kernels outweigh any
potential benefits, and their used should be discouraged." (Fetrow)

No evidence is available to support either of the proposed theories.
All data published in reputable scientific journals reveal that
Laetrile has no selective antitumor activity against either animal or
human cancers. (Martin 1983)

1. Cyanide Release Theory

Dr. Charles G. Moertel described a clinical trial involving 178
patients. Patients were selected who had histologically proven
cancer for which no standard treatment was known to be curative or
to extend life expectancy. All patients had had no surgery,
radiation therapy or chemotherapy for one month. The amygdalin
used for treatment was prepared from apricot pits and supplied by
the Pharmaceutical Resources Branch of the National Cancer
Institute.

Patients selected were in good general condition, were ambulatory
and able to maintain good nutrition. Patients who were disabled
and bedridden were ineligible for the study.

The routes, dosage and schedule of administration were chosen to
be representative of current Laetrile practice. Patients were also
placed on a diet identical to the one recommended by most Laetrile
practitioners.

"Each patient had either a tumor area which could be measured in
two dimensions or malignant hepatomegaly with a clearly defined
liver edge extending at least 5 cm below the costal margin.
Lesions demonstrable by radioisotope liver scan or by computerized
tomographic scan were accepted if they measured 5 cm in diameter."
(Moertel)

Of 171 fully documented patients, only one patient met the
criteria for partial response. However, all patients had tumor
progression by 7 months.

"The fact that amygdalin therapy did not slow the advance of
malignant disease or induce "stabilization" is evidenced by the
fact that more than half these patients had measurable tumor
progression when they terminated the intravenous induction therapy
and that over 90 percent had progression by 3 months." (Moertel)

2. Vitamin Deficiency Theory

A vitamin is defined on the basis of several properties not
applying to Laetrile:

A vitamin is required in small amounts for the complete health
 and well-being of vertebrate organisms.

Vitamins are not used primarily to supply energy or as a
 source of structural tissue components of the body.

A vitamin promotes physiological processes vital to the
 continued existence of the organism.

A vitamin (except vitamin A) cannot be synthesized by the
 cells of the organism.

In man, deficiency of a specific vitamin is the cause of
 certain well-defined diseases. These diseases are cured or
 prevented by the addition of the appropriate vitamin.
 (Greenberg)

The following facts have been established about Laetrile (incorrectly
called vitamin B17):

1. Laetriles are not essential nutritional components.

2. Laetriles have never been shown to promote any vital
  physiological processes.

3. No specific disease has been associated with a lack of Laetrile.
  (Greenberg)

Laetrile may be a carcinogen (itself cause cancer); mutagenic effects
have been observed as determined by the Ames Salmonella lyphimurium
test. (Fenselan)

Two researchers in Chicago who administered Laetrile to rats with
tumors reported that each increase in the dosage led to even bigger
tumors and to death from cyanide poisoning. (Vancouver Sun)

An inquiry reported in the New York Times in 1977 revealed a profit of
$150,000 to $200,000 a month to one Laetrile promoter. (Martin 1977)

Toxicity/ Risks

"A clinical trial conducted at the Mayo Clinic and three other
prominent cancer centers found no anticancer effect but found
significant blood levels of cyanide in some of the patients." (Hafner)

While taking Laetrile, patients may suffer nausea, vomiting, headache,
and dizziness. (Ontario)

"Symptoms following cyanide poisoning include sudden, severe vomiting
and epigastric pain followed by syncope a faint, lethargy, coma, and
seizures. Chronic consumption of plants high in cyanogenic glycosides
has resulted in optic atrophy a wasting away of the optic disc,
nerve deafness, spastic paraparesis a partial paralysis of the lower
extremities, ataxia failure of muscular coordination, clonus
alternate muscular contraction and relaxation in rapid succession,
and peripheral neuropathy." (Fetrow)

"Serious cases of poisoning have been reported as a result of eating
quantities of these seeds." (Tyler)

Several patients participating in the clinical trial conducted by
Moertel had symptomatic toxicity (nausea and vomiting, headache,
dizziness, mental obtundation, dermatitis). These symptoms subsided
promptly when oral amygdalin was discontinued. They were sometimes
(but not always) associated with relatively high levels of blood
cyanide. The cyanide approached levels known to be lethal to animals.
(Moertel)

"In addition, the Laetrile was generally available from Mexican
suppliers and was found to be contaminated with infectious agents and
endotoxin. Deaths attributable to laetrile have been reported."
(Spencer)

Taken by injection, amygdalin is non-toxic. However, when a source of
beta-glucosidase is injected with amygdalin, the toxicity is greatly
increased. Orally administered, amygdalin is definitely toxic,
presumably due to the presence of beta-glucosidase in the small
intestine. (Greenberg)

Ingested with plant material containing beta-glucosidase, amygdalin
can be lethal. (Schmidt)

Two reports of deaths from swallowing amygdalin preparations intended
for the treatment of cancer have been published, one of a child
(Humbert); the other of a 17 year old girl. (Sadoff)

A three year old boy suffering from leukemia died in Mexico where he
was undergoing Laetrile treatments for his condition. (Vancouver
Province)

A woman suffering from breast cancer died of cyanide poisoning after
taking massive doses of Laetrile. (Los Angeles Times)

Prolonged ingestion of cyanogenic glycoside-containing plant food
stuffs is suspected of being a cause of tropical amblyopia (dimness of
vision) and other obscure neurological disorders. (Montgomery)

Costs

"Laetrile is usually given as part of a larger treatment program which
can cost between $2,000 to $5,000 U.S. per week." (Ontario, 1994)

The Richardson Centre in Reno, Nevada charged $2,500-$3,000 for the
first four months. A $2,000 deposit is requested during the first
visit. Travel and room and board costs are not included. (Herbert,
1984)

References

CA (Anonymous). Questionable methods of cancer management: the
Committee of Freedom of Choice in Medicine, Inc. CA: a Cancer Journal
for Clinicians 1993 Mar/Apr;43(2):117-123.

Cassileth BR. Alternative medicine handbook: a complete reference
guide to alternative and complementary therapies. New York: W.W.
Norton & Co., 1998:159.

Diamond WJ, et al. An alternative medicine definitive guide to cancer.
Tiburon, California: Future Medicine Publishing, Inc., 1997:812-813.

Dunlop M. Understanding cancer. Toronto: Irwin, 1985:97.

Fensalan C, Pallante S, Batzinger RP. Mandelonitrile B-glucoside:
synthesis and characterization. Science 1977;198:625-627.

Fetrow CW, Avila JR. Professional's handbook of complementary and
alternative medicines. Springhouse, Pennsylvania: Springhouse
Corporation 1999:494-496.

Greenberg DM. The case against laetrile: the fraudulent cancer remedy.
Cancer 1980;45:799-807.

Hafner AW, editor. Reader's guide to alternative health methods.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin: American Medical Association, 1993:135-139.

Herbert JD, Barrett S. Vitamins and "health" foods: the great American
hustle. Philadelphia: George F. Stickley, 1984:112.

Humbert JR, Tress JH, Braico KT. Fatal cyanide poisoning: accidental
ingestion of amygdalin. JAMA 1977;239:479.

Jukes TH. The testing of laetrile. Nature 1990 Nov 22;348:279.

Levi L, et. al. Laetrile: a study of its physicochemical and
biochemical properties. Can Med Assoc J 1965;92:1057.

Los Angeles Times. Death of woman, 42, linked to Laetrile: coroner
finds cyanide poisoning from massive doses of drug. 1979 Feb 8.

Martin DS, et. al. Ineffective cancer therapy: a guide for the
layperson. J Clin Oncol 1983;1:154-163.

Martin DS, et al. Laetrile - a dangerous drug. CA: a Cancer Journal
for Clinicians 1977;27:301-304.

Moertel CG, et al. A clinical trial of amygdalin (laetrile) in the
treatment of human cancer. N Engl J Med 1982;306:201-206.

Montgomery RD. The medical significance of cyanogen in plant
foodstuffs, Am J Clin Nutr 1965;17:103-113.

National Cancer Institute. Laetrile. Cancer Facts 1992 Nov 30.

Ontario Breast Cancer Information Exchange Project. Guide to
unconventional cancer therapies. 1st ed. Toronto: Ontario Breast
Cancer Information Exchange Project, 1994:281-284.

Sadoff L, Fuchs K, Hollander K. Rapid deaths associated with Laetrile
ingestion. JAMA 1978;239:1532.

Schmidt ES, Newton GW, Saunders SM, Lewis JP, Conn EE. Laetrile
toxicity studies in dogs. JAMA 1978;239:943-947.

Spencer JW, Jacobs JJ. Complementary/alternative medicine: an evidence
based approach. Toronto: Mosley, 1999:152.

Syrigos KN, et al. In vitro cytotoxicity following specific activation
of amygdalin by beta-glucosidase conjugated to bladder
cancer-associated monoclonal antibody. International Journal of Cancer
1998;78:712-9.

Tyler VE, Foster S. Tyler's honest herbal: a sensible guide to the use
of herbs and related remedies 4th Ed. New York: Haworth herbal press,
1999:35-36.

Vancouver Province. Laetrile-treated boy dies. 1979 Oct 15.

Vancouver Sun. Tumors grow: Laetrile kills lab test rats. 1979 Jul 5.

White AL. Principles of Biochemistry. 5th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill
1973:45.

Revised February 2000

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