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Amygdalin produces cyanide, which is a toxic substance. Cyanide is thought to be a primary cancer-fighting component of laetrile and amygdalin. 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. Cyanide poisoning can be life-threatening and may result in death.
According to the National Cancer Institute, use of laetrile is associated with increased risk of coma or death.
There's concern that vitamin C may boost the amount of cyanide released from laetrile in the body and, as a result, lead to increased risk of toxicity.
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