Re: Laetrile would not be my choice as a standalone cancer treatment

I agree. Some discrepancy does exist.

This site http://www.anticancerinfo.co.uk
seems to be more specific about the doses.

Following is an excerpt from its overview page.

"The B17 regime suggested is as follows: after the initial period of adjustment with supplements and diet mentioned above, the recommendation for a period of 21 - 30 days is:

5 South African apricot kernels per waking hour up to a total of 50 kernels per day,
(NB Kernels vary in size: Californian kernels are larger and Hunza kernels are smaller. The equivalent measurement is approximately 3gms per waking hour up to a total of 30 gms per day) and/or

six of the 500mg laetrile tablets per day, spread out during the day (see ‘How to eat’ comments below) NB Start slowly with half a tablet a day, increasing gradually to two tablets three times daily.

Please note: If both laetrile and kernels are taken, then Dr Krebs recommends that they are not taken at the same time but that there should be two hours between taking them. While high doses of laetrile are taken, the number of kernels taken can be less.

Maintenance: at the end of the month, or when the cancer is in remission, Binzel lowers the dose of laetrile gradually over three months down to two tablets 500mg per day thereafter, indefinitely. For those eating kernels I find no recommendations for maintenance levels. (In 2002) I personally have four lots of 6 apricot kernels (breakfast, lunch, tea, supper) and at least 2 hours later, at bedtime, I take the two laetrile 500mg tablets. Now (2008) I find that 12 kernels daily is adequate alongside the laetrile.

For prevention - including anyone reading this on behalf of a loved one with cancer - the recommendation is 5 South African kernels twice a day (or one and a half teaspoons ground kernels) twice a day, for example in the morning and in the evening."

This citation, apparently, suggests that 30g of kernels, which is equivalent to 45 seeds in my calculations, should contain 3g (6 x 500mg) of B17, which is 10% by weight. Does it sound reasonable? This should be verified.

In any case, it seems like the founders of this therapy never relied on the apricot seeds exclusively, but used a pure form of Laetrile, either IV or in tablets. They did recommend seeds as a supplement in the amount of 1 per 10 lb (Dr. Krebs).

It must be some published research data about the B17 content of different food items. It would be very useful if this data could be found.

Thank you,
Nekto