Bitter apricot kernels have long been used in alternative medicine, mainly due to their alleged anti-cancer properties. Some people consider bitter apricot kernels to cure cancer and replace traditional chemotherapy with them. Do bitter apricot kernels really have anti-cancer properties?

Bitter apricot kernels , which come from wild varieties of apricot trees, foundusein alternative medicine due to their alleged propertiesanti-cancer. All because of the amygdalin contained in bitter apricot kernels, which some considercancer treatment .

Are bitter apricot kernels a cancer cure?

Amygdalin (also known as vitamin B17 or - in English-speaking countries - Laetrile) is a compound found in the seeds of fruits, giving them a bitter taste and aroma. Most of it can be found in bitter almonds (hence the name amygdalin), as well as in bitter kernels of apricots, cherries, cherries, apples, and also in some legumes. In the body, amygdalin is broken down, among others, by to prussic acid (hydrogen cyanide), which - according to amygdalin supporters - destroys cancer cells.

Preclinical studies (laboratory and animal studies) were conducted with the use of amygdalin. Two animal studies of the action of laetrile / amygdalin by the US National Cancer Institute (NCI) showed no response, either when laetrile / amygdalin was administered alone or in combination with an enzyme that activates the body's secretion of laetrile / amygdalin cyanide. In animals, more side effects occurred when laetrile / amygdalin was coadministered with the enzyme. Similar results were obtained in a model in which human breast and colon tumors were implanted in mice .²

In other laboratory studies on amygdalin, it showed a slightly slower growth of colon cancer cells. In turn, other studies have found that the higher the dose of amygdalin, the more likely the prostate cancer cells to respond to treatment. One study showed treatment response in mice with breast tumors when amygdalin was given together with enzymes and vitamin A, but not when given alone.In contrast, another study in rats found that amygdalin was ineffective in treating, preventing, or delaying the growth of tumors.

There have been no controlled clinical trials (studies comparing a group of patients receiving a new drug with a group not receiving treatment) with laetrile / amygdalin. Although many individual reports (incomplete treatment reports for one or several patients) and case reports (detailed reports on diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of individual patients) are available, they provide little evidence of evidence that laetrile / amygdalin may be effective in treating ² For example, in 1953 a case series (group or series of case reports including patients undergoing similar treatment) of 44 patients treated with laetrile / amygdalin was published. Most of the patients who showed some improvement were also receiving radiotherapy or oncology treatments, so it is not known which treatment provided the observed therapeutic benefit .²

According to an expertEwa Ceborska-Scheiterbauer, dietitian, specialist in nutrition in diseases of civilization

Vitamin B17 (amygdalin) in bitter apricot kernels for cancerI read that vitamin B17, or amygdalin, can help cancer patients? Is it true? Does eating bitter apricot kernels during cancer make sense?

Ewa Ceborska-Scheiterbauer: I strongly advise against taking amygdalin seeds. You can expect deterioration of digestive functions, such as indigestion, heartburn, abdominal pain, flatulence, nausea. In patients with malabsorption syndrome, the absorption of other valuable nutrients may deteriorate. Moreover, unfortunately, there are no known interactions between vitamin B17 and cytostatics.

Bitter apricot kernels can lead to poisoning?

People with cyanide levels above toxic levels may become poisoned, which may result in damage to the nervous system, kidney failure, damage to the liver and other organs, as well as thrombocytopenia and acidosis. Experts argue that the risk of cyanide poisoning is particularly high when taking amygdalin in the oral form (capsules, tablets), and additionally increases with the simultaneous consumption of preparations with vitamin C, as well as in the case of vitamin B12 deficiency.

You can eat a maximum of 2-3 apricot kernels per day

However, the medical literature describes several cases of poisoning with Prussian acid derived from bitter apricot kernels. One of them was described in 2010 from the journal Annals of TropicalPaediatrics. "In 2005-2009, 13 people with cyanide poisoning symptoms associated with the consumption of bitter apricot kernels were admitted to the intensive care unit of Erciyes University in 2005-2009. The condition of some patients was very serious as they required connection to a ventilator.

Bitter apricot kernels - contraindications

Bitter apricot kernels cannot be given to children, pregnant and lactating women. Due to the toxicity of Prussian acid, you can eat only 2-3 apricot kernels per day.

Bitter apricot kernels - where to buy? What's the price?

Bitter apricot kernels can be bought in herbal stores (also online) and larger supermarkets. Their price for 250 g is about PLN 20.

Bibliography:

1. Kapała A., "The facts and myths of nutrition in cancer".

2. Polish League Against Cancer: ligawalkizrakiem.pl/rak-niekonwencjonalnie/przeglad-terapii/amigdalina-letril-witamina-b17

Category:

Alternative medicine