Re: laetrile

From: Peter Moran (moringa_at_gil.com.au)
Date: 12/17/04 

Date: Sat, 18 Dec 2004 06:29:18 +1000

"john" <nospamoridiots@vaccine.com> wrote in message
news:cpu4a3$fvb$1@titan.btinternet.com...
>
> "Robert A. Fink, M. D." <lynxer@comcast.net> wrote in message
>>
>> Finally, when the Federal Government finally got a hold of some
>> samples of Laetrile, it was determined that some specimens contained
>> absolutely NO "active ingredient"; and others contained so much
>> cyanide that a small dose could easily kill a young or elderly
>> patient.
>
> That reminds me of the Mayo clinic hatchet job
>
> According to Richard Walters, Dr. James Cason of the University of
> California, Berkeley, analyzed the compound used in the Mayo Clinic study
> using infrared spectrophotometry and determined that it did not contain
> amygdalin at all.

Another example of how alt.med will use lies to defend crap. Note this in
the abstract of one of the Mayo trials: "The hazards of amygdalin therapy
were evidenced in several patients by symptoms of cyanide toxicity or by
blood cyanide levels approaching the lethal range." (Cyanide is released
from amygdalin) .

I also include below a preliminary toxicological study by one of the Mayo
clinic authors confirming the same.

The abstracts.

A clinical trial of amygdalin (Laetrile) in the treatment of human cancer.

Moertel CG, Fleming TR, Rubin J, Kvols LK, Sarna G, Koch R, Currie VE, Young
CW, Jones SE, Davignon JP.

One hundred seventy-eight patients with cancer were treated with amygdalin
(Laetrile) plus a "metabolic therapy" program consisting of diet, enzymes,
and vitamins. The great majority of these patients were in good general
condition before treatment. None was totally disabled or in preterminal
condition. One third had not received any previous chemotherapy. The
pharmaceutical preparations of amygdalin, the dosage, and the schedule were
representative of past and present Laetrile practice. No substantive benefit
was observed in terms of cure, improvement or stabilization of cancer,
improvement of symptoms related to cancer, or extension of life span. The
hazards of amygdalin therapy were evidenced in several patients by symptoms
of cyanide toxicity or by blood cyanide levels approaching the lethal range.
Patients exposed to this agent should be instructed about the danger of
cyanide poisoning, and their blood cyanide levels should be carefully
monitored. Amygdalin (Laetrile) is a toxic drug that is not effective as a
cancer treatment.

Publication Types:

      : JAMA. 1981 Feb 13;245(6):591-4. Related Articles, Links

A pharmacologic and toxicological study of amygdalin.

Moertel CG, Ames MM, Kovach JS, Moyer TP, Rubin JR, Tinker JH.

Six patients with advanced cancer were treated with amygdalin (laetrile) at
dosages similar to those employed by laetrile practitioners. Amygdalin given
intravenously at 4.5 g/sq m/day was largely excreted unchanged in the urine
and produced no clinical or laboratory evidence of toxic reaction. Amygdalin
given orally at 0.5 g three times daily produced significant blood cyanide
levels to 2.1 microgram/mL. No clinical or laboratory evidence of toxic
reaction was seen in the six patients taking oral amygdalin at this dosage.
One patient, however, challenged with a large intake of raw almonds, had
transient symptoms of cyanide toxic reaction with escalating blood cyanide
levels. This small study indicates that amygdalin in the doses employed
produces few clinical side effects. A definite hazard of cyanide toxic
reaction must be assumed, however, and possible long-term side effects
remain unknown.

Peter Moran

Relevant Pages

  • Re: laetrile
    ... Anyone who pushes laetrile is, AFAIAC, a murderer. ... > Ann Emerg Med 1998 Dec;32:742-4 Acute cyanide toxicity caused by ... > cyanide toxicity from apricot kernel ingestion in the United States ... He had his patients housed at a nearby motel, ...
    (sci.med)
  • Re: Interesting article on B17 and cancer
    ... >> companies trying to scaremonger the use of B17 due to the cyanide thing.. ... A clinical trial of amygdalin ... The great majority of these patients were in ... > improvement or stabilization of cancer, ...
    (sci.med.nutrition)
  • Re: Interesting article on B17 and cancer
    ... > companies trying to scaremonger the use of B17 due to the cyanide thing.. ... "One hundred seventy-eight patients with cancer were treated with amygdalin ...
    (sci.med.nutrition)
  • Re: laetrile
    ... Ann Emerg Med 1998 Dec;32:742-4 Acute cyanide toxicity caused by ... cyanide toxicity from apricot kernel ingestion in the United States ... May;32:1121-58 Laetrile: the cult of cyanide. ... He had his patients housed at a nearby motel, ...
    (sci.med)
  • Re: laetrile (crosspost)
    ... We have Prostate Cancer. ... >> cyanide toxicity from apricot kernel ingestion in the United States ... >> from laetrile ingestion. ... He had his patients housed at a nearby motel, ...
    (sci.med.diseases.cancer)
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