Over the years there have been a number of mixed messages about
apricot kernels, which contain the controversial vitamin B17
(also known as amygdalin), and their effectiveness in both treating
cancer and keeping it at bay. Amygdalin is a molecule with four
components - two of glucose (sugar), one of benzaldehyde and one of
cyanide. It seems that the cyanide component of amygdalin is the one
that either has everyone hitching up their skirts and running for the
hills, or conversely, looking for a way to claim it as their own and
using it as a potential cancer cure. It would appear that when the
public eats apricot kernels, with the inevitable cyanide component,
it may be very dangerous, but when scientists modify the cyanide
component, and call it a treatment, it may be quite safe. Confusing
isn’t it.
On the 7th September 2000, ‘The Independent’ told us that scientists
at Imperial College London had found that the ‘magic bullet of cyanide
could kill cancer cells'. Apparently, a Dr Deonarain from Imperial
College stated that for the first time they had been able to show
that they could kill cancer cells using a ‘prodrug activation approach’
(his words, not mine). The paper described the ‘magic bullet’ as a
cyanide cocktail derived from the cassava plant. Could this be because,
along with apricot kernels, the cassava plant also contains B17
(amygdalin)?
However, before we unhitch our skirts and return from the hills we need
to know about the ‘Fatal dangers of alternative cancer cures on the
web' as reported in ‘The Sunday Times’ (3rd August 2004). It seems
that ‘thousands of cancer patients are risking their health by following
the advice of alternative therapy websites promoting bogus cures’. Edzard
Ernst, who is apparently the country’s only professor of complementary
medicine (clearly a lonely job), called for the government to steer
people away from treatments promoted on the mighty interweb! Shockingly,
researchers found that dozens of remedies were being promoted as curing
or preventing cancer - including shark cartilage, coffee enemas, mistletoe
and ‘apricot extracts’ - scary stuff!
The Sunday Times report clearly demonstrated the sheer foolishness of taking
your health into your own hands. And as if their dire warning wasn’t enough,
in 2006 (11th April), the good old BBC let us know ‘Watchdog warns over
apricot seeds’. Is there no getting away from apricots! The BBC reported
that the Food Standards Agency are concerned that cyanide can be poisonous
in high doses, and that we should consume no more than two bitter apricot
kernels per day. In the same report, Cancer Research UK (also apparently
worried by apricots) warns us that the claims of apricot pips curing cancer
are simply not true. They state that 'if simply eating apricot seeds could
cure cancer, no one would be more delighted than us’. Perhaps they need to
get together with Dr Deonarain from Imperial College?
In order to be able to make an informed judgment about what’s actually
going on we should really take a look at the science behind the headlines.
If you’re interested in knowing more, take a look at ‘Apricot kernels, Cancer
and Vitamin B17 - Part 2’.
