• CAM-summaries
  • Alternative medical systems
  • Biologically-based practices
    • Boswellia
    • Cannabinoids
    • Essiac
    • Galavit
    • Laetrile
      • What is Laetrile?
      • How well does it work?
      • Is Laetrile safe?
      • Conclusions
    • Shark cartilage
    • Ukrain
    • Black cohosh
  • Diet & nutrition
  • Energy medicine
  • Manipulative & body-based practices
  • Mind-body medicine
• CAM systematic reviews
• CAM and the law
• Prevalence of CAM use

Is Laetrile safe?

Cyanide is believed to be the active cancer-killing ingredient in Laetrile, which has caused concern over toxicity. Side effects linked with Laetrile treatment are like the symptoms of cyanide poisoning. These symptoms include: nausea and vomiting, headache, dizziness, bluish discolouration of the skin due to lack of oxygen in the blood, liver damage, abnormally low blood pressure, difficulty walking, droopy eyelids, fever and mental confusion, coma and death. Several deaths have been attributed to Laetrile (refs 26, 27). If taking Laetrile orally, the potential risk of cyanide poisoning symptoms are increased if any from the list of foods containing Laetrile are eaten (see above) or high doses of vitamin C are taken (ref 28). More severe side effects (i.e. cyanide poisoning) are seen when Laetrile is administered orally than when it is given by injection, as intestinal bacteria contain enzymes that promote the release of cyanide in the digestive system (ref 17).
In addition to the above serious concerns, for those with liver problems/damage Laetrile may compromise liver function (ref 28). Furthermore, this treatment should be avoided by pregnant or breast-feeding women.

Known drug interactions

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) may increase the toxicity of Laetrile/Amygdalin/B17 (ref 28)

References

17. Newmark J, Brady, RO, Grimley, PM, Gal, AE, Waller, SG, & Thistlethwaite, JR. Amygdalin (Laetrile) and pruasin beta-glucosidases: Distribution in germ free rat and in human tumor tissue. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 1981; 78 (10): 6513-6.

26. Braico, KT, Humbert, JR, Terplan, KL, & Lehotay, JM. Laetrile intoxication: report of a fatal case, New England Journal of Medicine. 1979; 1; 300 (5): 238-40.
27. Sadoff, L, Fuchs, K, & Hollander, J, Rapid death associated with Laetrile ingestion, Journal of the American Medical Association. 1978; 14; 239 (15): 1532.
28. Lee, M, Berger, HW, Givre, HL, et al. Near fatal Laetrile intoxication: Complete recovery with supportive treatment, Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine. 1982; 49 (4): 305-307.