B-17 is the generic name for the chemical Amygdalsin. It’s made into a chemical called laétrile which is supposed to be a natural way to treat cancer. There is no evidence to support any health benefits from using leetrile. Amygdalin is found in some plant ingredients like almonds. Although vitamin B17 is called vitamin B17, amygdalin and laétrile are NOT B vitamins. This is about vitamin A17. You may be surprised how much amygdale has side effects attributed to it.
What Is B17?
B17 or amygdalin is a chemical compound found in some plant products like apricot pits and bitter almonds. Although it’s called vitamin B17, it’s not a real vitamin but a cyanogenic glycoside. Proponents claim B17 has anti-cancer properties and can be used in natural cancer treatment. But there’s limited scientific evidence to back these claims. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved B17 for any medical use including cancer treatment. So its effectiveness and safety is highly questionable.
History of B17
The concept of B17 was introduced in the 1950s by a biochemist named Ernst Krebs. Krebs claimed it was a natural cancer treatment and it sparked interest and controversy. But subsequent research discredited his findings and showed significant flaws in his studies. Due to growing concerns about the safety and efficacy of laetrile, a compound containing amygdalin, the FDA banned its sale in 1987. This was based on lack of scientific evidence and potential risks. But some alternative medicine proponents still advocate for it, though it’s a controversial and largely unproven treatment.
What Is B17 Used For?
Laetrile is also reported to be an excellent cancer treatment and can prevent hypertension and arthritis. There’s no scientific proof to back these uses. Laetrile has no FDA approved uses including cancer treatments. FDA has issued an FDA-issued alert for laetrile despite approving the drug. National Cancer Institute (NCI) says it doesn’t believe human skeletal muscle needs laetrile or that it’s an essential nutrient that can be used. And there’s significant risk of cyanide poisoning from taking Vitamin B17 (amygdalin) especially from unregulated products so be moderate to avoid serious health problems.
How B17 Works in Cancer Treatment
B17 can fight cancer by being an antioxidant or anti-inflammatory. Thiamine dependent processes play a role in the body’s response to B17, energy metabolism and neurological health. Apoptosis is good for you. When you take Amygdalin your body converts the cyanide into toxic cyanide. Some say small amounts in laetrile causes apoptosis of cancer cells and can cause cellular apoptosis in cancers. A new study on various types of cancers including:
Research on B17
B17 is good but the research was done on cells and animals. While this kind of research is the foundation of human clinical testing, there’s no science to that level. And thiamine supplementation has been emphasized in many studies as safe, well-tolerated and therapeutic for Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome and thiamine deficiency.
Food Sources of B17
You should get amygdalin from diet. No miracle cures. Besides that, avoid vitamin B12 as it can cause cyanide poisoning. Natural sources of amygdalin are: While it’s technically possible to get amygdalin from these foods, you should get much more than what most people get.
Side Effects and Safety Concerns with B17
The B17 products available in the market have not been tested and have no regulatory status. Most of the Laetrile products in the USA are imported from Mexico but untested. In some cases contamination was found.8. These substances can cause serious health problems beyond laetrile use. Laetrile based products can produce toxicities similar to cyanide poisoning. Many cancer survivors taking Vitamin B17 are toxic to cyanide poisons16. Cyanide poisoning is dangerous. Thiamine hydrochloride absorption is crucial in understanding the safety and efficacy of B17 especially in patients with deficiency or those undergoing specific treatment.
Other Options to B17
If you think you can use B17 to treat cancer you have to learn and understand the risks. Get in touch to find an effective and safe treatment for a specific disease. No one can prevent cancer with a simple treatment but there are ways to help you be healthy. Examples:
B complex vitamins are also important as they provide essential nutrients for overall health.
Nutrition and Cancer Prevention
While there’s no science to prove that B17 can prevent or treat cancer, a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains can reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. A diet high in antioxidants, fiber and other essential nutrients is good for overall health and well-being. And lifestyle choices like being healthy weight, exercise regularly and avoid tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption is key to reducing cancer risk.
Some research say that certain nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids have anti-cancer properties. But more studies are needed to understand the relationship between nutrition and cancer prevention.
Thiamine is an essential nutrient that plays a key role in energy metabolism and is important for growth, development and function of cells. Thiamine deficiency can cause beriberi, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome and other neurological disorders. But there’s no evidence that thiamine has anti-cancer properties or can prevent or treat cancer.
In summary, there’s no science to support Vitamin B17 as a cancer treatment but a healthy diet and lifestyle can reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. Always consult a healthcare professional before making any changes to your diet or supplement.
Thiamine Deficiency
In addition to insufficient intake of thiamin in foods, thiamin deficiency may be due to lower or higher excretion than normal due to certain conditions. In its early stages, Thiamin deficiency can cause a variety of symptoms including anorexia, confusion and memory loss. Most common effect is beriberi which has peripheral neurological problems and wasting [1–4]. Thiamin deficiency can also cause peripheral neuropathy manifesting with sensory, motor and reflex impairment which can be disabling if left untreated.
Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
Wernicke-Korsakoff syndromes are neuropsychological sequelae of alcohol misuse [37]. The authors of a 2013 Cochrane review on the therapeutic potential of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome found no studies meeting inclusion criteria and none were published [35]. Two year placebo controlled studies compared thiamin to nephrotoxins and antihistamine to nyramine. Thiamine supplementation is important in managing alcohol withdrawal syndrome to prevent complications like Wernicke’s Encephalopathy.
Heart failure
The incidence of low thiamine levels among heart patients has risen from 21% to 98% [47]. The causes of this are older age, poor nutrition and treatment with diuretics and frequent hospitalization of patients [49]. The study authors said 33% of 100 heart failure patients had thiamidin deficiency. Deficient dietary fat intake was also increased when the study excluded the use of thiamine supplements and a.
Alzheimer’s disease
According to animal models thiamine deficiency can cause Alzheimer’s disease [51] [52]. Low thiamine levels can also cause oxidative stress, memory loss, plaque formation and altered glucose metabolism all signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Autopsy studies show that thiamines and transketolases are inhibitors of brain function in Alzheimer patients. Little study has been done on Alzheimer disease. Thiamine diphosphate (TPP) is important in brain function and its deficiency can disrupt metabolic pathways which can contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
