Vitamin B17 is a commonly used name for a chemical calledamygdalin.
It is used to make a chemical calledlaetrile, a compound that some people claim can treatcancernaturally.
However, there is little evidence that laetrile works or is safe.
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Amygdalin is sourced from certain plant products like apricot pits and bitter almonds.
Although they’re called “vitamin B17,” amygdalin andlaetrileare not B vitamins.
This article will define what vitamin B17 is.
What Is Vitamin B17 Used For?
However, little scientific evidence supports any of these uses.
Apoptosis is one of the ways your body keeps itself healthy.
Some people have claimed that cancer is brought on by a deficiency of vitamin B17.
However, there is no evidence that the body has any known uses for vitamin B17.
How Did Laetrile Get Popular?
Laetrile’s popularity has been bolstered by conspiracy theories.
Despite the FDA ban that went into effect in 1987, many people still take laetrile for cancer.
you could get laetrile online and in some stores.
However, the products cannot legally be marketed as a cancer treatment.
Still, with false claims all over the internet, people learn about laetrile and seek it out.
Amygdalin has been used as an anticancer treatment since the mid-1800s.
Laetrile was developed during the 1950s as a purportedly non-toxic version of amygdalin.
Promising Research
Some research on laetrile and amygdalin as cancer treatments has been published in reputable journals.
However, it’s not a miracle cure.
You also need to avoid consuming too much vitamin B17, which can lead to cyanide poisoning.
Many laetrile products that are commercially available in the United States come from Mexico and they are untested.
Cyanide poisoning is a life-threatening emergency.
That means that it could raise the risk of toxicity.
Talk to your provider about the safest and most effective way to treat or prevent cancer.
For example:
Summary
Vitamin B17 is sometimes used to describe the chemicals amygdalin and laetrile.
Despite the name, these chemicals are not really vitamins.
Vitamin B17 is sometimes used as a natural cancer treatment.
Vitamin B17 can be found in foods like raw almonds, flaxseed, bean sprouts, and lima beans.
When you eat these foods, the chemical amygdalin is converted to small amounts of the poison cyanide.
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