Vitamin B17 Level in Figs

Figs were originally used to make a coffee substitute. In addition to its nutritional value, the fig has been important for its ability to keep the body physically and mentally strong. Figs have been used for a variety of alternative medicines to prevent wrinkles, provide relief from respiratory infections and treat headaches, arthritis and stomach disorders, according to FoodReferences.com. Vitamin B-17 in figs has been suggested as an alternative treatment for cancer, but controversy reigns over its effectiveness.

History of Figs

Figs were one of the earliest fruits to be cultivated in the Mediterranean, according to the website for the North American Fruit Explorers. The Spanish brought figs to the United States in 1575. Fig plants quickly grew 15 to 30 feet high, with the canopy equally wide. A total of 720 varieties of figs exist, but not all of them are grown in the U.S.

Nutrition

Dried figs have more nutrition than fresh figs. Figs are rich in protein, carbohydrates, calcium, potassium, iron and B vitamins and are high in dietary fiber. Only oranges contain more calcium than figs. Sugar constitutes 51 percent to 70 percent of the fruit, according to FoodReference.com. One quarter-cup of dried figs provides 20 percent of the recommended daily value for fiber in addition to six percent iron, six percent calcium, and seven percent DV for potassium. Figs contain no fat, sodium or cholesterol. Figs also have polyphenol antioxidants for protection against disease, according to the California Fig Advisory Board.

Vitamin B-17

Laetrile is often referred to as vitamin B-17, although it is not a vitamin, according to the National Cancer Institute. Laetrile contains a chemical called amygdalin, which is found naturally in the pits of many fruits, including figs. When amygdalin is metabolized by the body, it produces cyanide. It is this chemical that many believe is an alternative cancer treatment.

Cancer Treatment

Laetrile was first used as a treatment for cancer in Russia in 1845 and later in the U.S. starting in the 1920s. Since the 1950s, laetrile has been promoted as an active compound in the treatment of cancer. However, evidence does not suggest that vitamin B-17 has any anticancer effects in laboratory, animal or human studies, according to the California Fig Advisory Board: Nutrition. A study at the Mayo Clinic by Moertel et. al. in 1992 tested laetrile on 172 cancer patients. Results, published in the Internet Journal of Alternative Medicine, concluded laetrile unequivocally showed no effect for cancer therapy.

Side Effects of Vitamin B-17

Laetrile has been banned from use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration because it can cause side effects similar to cyanide poisoning. Cancer Research UK reported two human studies sponsored by the American National Cancer Institute during the late 1970s and early 1980s that tested whether laetrile was a valid cancer treatment. Although few side effects were reported, two subjects in the study had symptoms of cyanide poisoning because they ate raw almonds while taking amygdalin.