As a nurse, I tend to use scholarly articles for my research
regarding cyonide
Eur J Emerg Med. 2005 Oct;12(5):257-8.
Severe cyanide toxicity from 'vitamin supplements'.
O'Brien B, Quigg C, Leong T.
Source
Department of Anaesthesia, Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Dublin, Ireland. [email protected]
Abstract
The use of alternative medicines is increasing and poorly regulated. We describe a case of severe cyanide poisoning arising from amygdalin, a putative vitamin supplement. A 32-year-old woman arrived in the emergency department by ambulance unresponsive, shocked and with fixed dilated pupils. She was hypothermic and tachycardic but was breathing spontaneously. Despite her age, she had documented breast cancer with hepatic metastases. Conventional treatment having failed, she only took 'vitamin supplements' bought on the Internet, her father said. Over the next 6 h she required mechanical ventilation and increasing doses of inotropes. Diabetes insipidus developed. As the appropriateness of further treatment was considered, a relative arrived with her medications including 'vitamin B 17' or amygdalin. An Internet search identified this as a debunked cancerremedy and cyanogen. Serum thiocyanate level was markedly elevated. She recovered fully over 8 h. While various antidotes to cyanide exist, in this case supportive therapy alone proved effective.
PMID:
16175068
[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
when using pubmed I found this as the most recent peer reviewed article on:
Laetrile treatment for cancer.
Milazzo S, Ernst E, Lejeune S, Boehm K, Horneber M.
Source
Medizinische Klinik 5-Schwerpunkt Onkologie/Haematologie, Klinikum Nord, Nuernberg, Germany. [email protected]
Abstract
Laetrile is the name for a semi-synthetic compound which is chemically related to amygdalin, a cyanogenic glycoside from the kernels of apricots and various other species of the genus Prunus. Laetrile and amygdalin are promoted under various names for the treatment ofcancer although there is no evidence for its efficacy. Due to possible cyanide poisoning, laetrile can be dangerous.
To assess the alleged anti-cancer effect and possible adverse effects of laetrile and amygdalin.
We searched the following databases: CENTRAL (2011, Issue 1); MEDLINE (1951-2011); EMBASE (1980-2011); AMED; Scirus; CancerLit; CINAHL (all from 1982-2011); CAMbase (from 1998-2011); the MetaRegister; the National Research Register; and our own files. We examined reference lists of included studies and review articles and we contacted experts in the field for knowledge of additional studies. We did not impose any restrictions of timer or language.
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs.
We searched eight databases and two registers for studies testing laetrile or amygdalin for the treatment ofcancer. Two review authors screened and assessed articles for inclusion criteria.
We located over 200 references, 63 were evaluated in the original review and an additional 6 in this update. However, we did not identify any studies that met our inclusion criteria.
The claims that laetrile or amygdalin have beneficial effects for cancer patients are not currently supported by sound clinical data. There is a considerable risk of serious adverse effects from cyanide poisoning after laetrile or amygdalin, especially after oral ingestion. The risk-benefit balance of laetrile or amygdalin as a treatment for cancer is therefore unambiguously negative.
regarding cyonide
Eur J Emerg Med. 2005 Oct;12(5):257-8.
Severe cyanide toxicity from 'vitamin supplements'.
O'Brien B, Quigg C, Leong T.
Source
Department of Anaesthesia, Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Dublin, Ireland. [email protected]
Abstract
The use of alternative medicines is increasing and poorly regulated. We describe a case of severe cyanide poisoning arising from amygdalin, a putative vitamin supplement. A 32-year-old woman arrived in the emergency department by ambulance unresponsive, shocked and with fixed dilated pupils. She was hypothermic and tachycardic but was breathing spontaneously. Despite her age, she had documented breast cancer with hepatic metastases. Conventional treatment having failed, she only took 'vitamin supplements' bought on the Internet, her father said. Over the next 6 h she required mechanical ventilation and increasing doses of inotropes. Diabetes insipidus developed. As the appropriateness of further treatment was considered, a relative arrived with her medications including 'vitamin B 17' or amygdalin. An Internet search identified this as a debunked cancerremedy and cyanogen. Serum thiocyanate level was markedly elevated. She recovered fully over 8 h. While various antidotes to cyanide exist, in this case supportive therapy alone proved effective.
PMID:
16175068
[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
when using pubmed I found this as the most recent peer reviewed article on:
Laetrile treatment for cancer.
Milazzo S, Ernst E, Lejeune S, Boehm K, Horneber M.
Source
Medizinische Klinik 5-Schwerpunkt Onkologie/Haematologie, Klinikum Nord, Nuernberg, Germany. [email protected]
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Laetrile is the name for a semi-synthetic compound which is chemically related to amygdalin, a cyanogenic glycoside from the kernels of apricots and various other species of the genus Prunus. Laetrile and amygdalin are promoted under various names for the treatment ofcancer although there is no evidence for its efficacy. Due to possible cyanide poisoning, laetrile can be dangerous.
OBJECTIVES:
To assess the alleged anti-cancer effect and possible adverse effects of laetrile and amygdalin.
SEARCH METHODS:
We searched the following databases: CENTRAL (2011, Issue 1); MEDLINE (1951-2011); EMBASE (1980-2011); AMED; Scirus; CancerLit; CINAHL (all from 1982-2011); CAMbase (from 1998-2011); the MetaRegister; the National Research Register; and our own files. We examined reference lists of included studies and review articles and we contacted experts in the field for knowledge of additional studies. We did not impose any restrictions of timer or language.
SELECTION CRITERIA:
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS:
We searched eight databases and two registers for studies testing laetrile or amygdalin for the treatment ofcancer. Two review authors screened and assessed articles for inclusion criteria.
MAIN RESULTS:
We located over 200 references, 63 were evaluated in the original review and an additional 6 in this update. However, we did not identify any studies that met our inclusion criteria.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS:
The claims that laetrile or amygdalin have beneficial effects for cancer patients are not currently supported by sound clinical data. There is a considerable risk of serious adverse effects from cyanide poisoning after laetrile or amygdalin, especially after oral ingestion. The risk-benefit balance of laetrile or amygdalin as a treatment for cancer is therefore unambiguously negative.
