By Cathy Wong  Medically reviewed by Doru Paul, MD
Updated on December 06, 2019

Vitamin B17 is a commonly used name for a chemical called amygdalin. Typically sourced from apricot pits and bitter almonds, amygdalin is used to make laetrile (a compound said to aid in the treatment of cancer). Although they're frequently referred to as "vitamin B17," neither amygdalin nor laetrile is truly a B vitamin.

Uses

Laetrile is often claimed to treat cancer naturally. It is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a treatment for cancer or any other medical condition.1

Some proponents of laetrile suggest that cancer occurs as a result of a vitamin deficiency. Such proponents claim that consumption of the so-called vitamin B17 can reverse this deficiency and, in turn, aid in the treatment or prevention of cancer.

Laetrile is also purported to protect against conditions like high blood pressure and arthritis.

Sources

Amygdalin is found naturally in raw nuts and in the pits of many fruits. It's also present in plants like lima beans, clover, and sorghum.

Side Effects and Safety Concerns

Amygdalin produces cyanide, which is a toxic substance. Cyanide is thought to be a primary cancer-fighting component of laetrile and amygdalin.1 It's said that the cyanide released into the body by these substances can kill off cancer cells.

Developed in the United States in the 1950s, laetrile is claimed to act as a nontoxic form of amygdalin. Still, laetrile has been found to trigger a range of side effects similar to those of cyanide poisoning.

Use of laetrile is associated with the following side effects: blue coloring of the skin, confusion, difficulty walking, dizziness, droopy upper eyelids, headache, liver damage, low blood pressure, nausea, nerve damage, and vomiting.2 Cyanide poisoning can be life-threatening and may result in death.