Vitamin B17

Vitamins are essential for the human body to function properly and perform actions vital to health, such as the absorption of nutrients, the formation of blood cells, and the transformation of food into energy.

There are many types of vitamins and some of the most important are concentrated in the group of B vitamins , where folic acid, thiamine, biotin and niacin are found, among others.

What is Vitamin B17 for?

Vitamin B17, also known by the name Amygdalin or Laetrile , is a glycoside that is derived from the amino acid phenylalanine and is found naturally in apricot seeds. At present, there are many medical experts who assure that this substance is not a vitamin and, therefore, should not be included within the group of the B complex.

However, other doctors and followers of alternative medicine claim that vitamin B17 is a powerful remedy for cancer . In eHealth we explain below what vitamin B17 is, where it is found and how dangerous its consumption in large quantities can be.

What is vitamin B17

Vitamin B17 is a cyanogenic glycoside derived from the amino acid phenylalanine and was discovered in 1950 by Dr. Ernst T. Krebs , a physician who also patented the synthetic version of amygdalin b17 , better known as Laetrile. Although it is not considered a vitamin, this substance provides a large amount of minerals to the human body and acts in a series of important processes for health, such as the metabolism of proteins.

Vitamin B17 is also considered a very dangerous substance in high doses , since when amygdalin decomposes it releases cyanide, which can cause significant poisoning that leads to death. Due to this toxic effect that vitamin B17 can cause in the body, its consumption as a medicine or supplement is prohibited in many countries.

In addition, it is important to bear in mind that vitamins are essential substances for the body and amygdalin is not considered one of them.

Properties of vitamin B17

Despite the controversy surrounding these substances, it is true that amygdalin offers some other properties that make orthomedicine consider it a vitamin. However, the benefits that could be obtained from this glucoside can be achieved through the consumption of the B complex vitamins.

Why does orthomedicine consider amygdalin to be a vitamin ? Because it is a substance that intervenes in the process of metabolizing nutrients and, in addition, it is water-soluble, as are many of the vitamins.

Functions of Vitamin B17 in the body

• It is involved in the formation of folic acid : amygdalin is involved in the formation process of vitamin B9, better known as folic acid, a substance that helps in the process of tissue formation , is involved in the breakdown and creation of proteins and helps the red blood cell formation and DNA production.
• Metabolizes nutrients : amygdalin is involved in the process of metabolizing nutrients to help the body break down the proteins they contain.
• It favors the skin: vitamin B17 is part of the substances that keep the skin and other tissues of the body healthy and in good condition .

Benefits of amygdalin or vitamin B17

Due to the properties mentioned above, vitamin B17 offers benefits to the body inside and out, the most outstanding are the following:

• Thanks to its action in the formation and preservation of tissues , amygdalin allows the skin to retain a more youthful appearance, as it delays aging and the appearance of fine lines.
• Vitamin B17 helps hair stay elastic and retain its natural tone for much longer.
• Reduces pain from topical wounds such as burns.
• Its action of stimulating the formation of folic acid strengthens memory , especially in the elderly.

Now, given the degree of toxicity of this substance , it is preferable to obtain its benefits through other supplements or healthy and essential vitamins , for example, biotin is responsible for the growth and resistance of hair, vitamin C and its antioxidant action are the best remedy for aging skin, burn pain can be treated with pain relievers and memory can be strengthened with mental agility exercises.

It is not necessary to consume amygdalin for our body to function properly, as we have mentioned throughout the article, this substance is not essential for the health of the human body.

Where is vitamin B17 found?

The presence of amygdalin is found mostly in foods of plant origin , unlike most vitamins of the B complex, which we can obtain through the consumption of meats of animal origin such as veal liver. The following foods contain a large amount of amygdalin in their composition:

Foods with Vitamins b17

• Nuts such as nuts and almonds.
• Fruits such as apricots, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, strawberries, and raspberries.
• Chickpeas and lentils.
• Bamboo shoots.
• Barley, oats, and brown rice.

Eating an exclusive diet with foods rich in amygdalin is not advisable, the human body needs other nutrients, which are essential, to stay healthy. Ideally, the daily diet should consist of three meals composed of carbohydrates , vegetables and animal protein plus three snacks that can be fruits or nuts.

Contrary to what is thought, dispensing with the consumption of any food group can affect the correct nutrition of the human being, the correct thing is to maintain a balanced intake of food in fair portions, not excessive.

Vitamin B17 and cancer

The appearance of the synthetic version of amygdalin , known as Laetrile , was considered by many medical experts as an excellent remedy to cure cancer. As a result, many patients with this disease were treated with Laetrile in the 60s, however, the result was not as expected .

The administration of large amounts of amygdalin showed, in a study carried out by Clínica Mayo , that none of the patients responded positively to treatment with Laetrile and, even, some died from cyanide poisoning.

At present, many followers of natural medicine assure that vitamin B17 can cure cancer , however, this premise has been denied in multiple cases of cancer patients who, in addition to not surviving the disease, faced a significant cyanide poisoning .

In fact, as a result of so many cases of poisoning, many countries have banned the treatment of diseases with this substance.

That said, in eHealth we want to emphasize again that it has been proven that this substance is not essential for the health of the human body and that, therefore, there is no need for its consumption as a supplement or medical treatment.

Likewise, we highlight that this article is merely informative and that, due to its fatal effects on health, the administration of amygdalin as a supplement or medicinal treatment is left to the judgment of the treating physician of each patient and deserves, by far, the consultation of a second medical opinion.