Apricot Kernel Drug Interactions, Uses, Effectiveness, Safety & More

The apricot (Prunus armeniaca) is a fruit tree in the rose family that is grown in many warm regions of the world, including China, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, and the United States. Inside the hard pit of the fruit is a seed called the apricot kernel.

Apricot kernels are different from whole-apricot supplements. The kernels are high in a compound called amygdalin. A processed form of amygdalin is sold as laetrile, and both are sometimes marketed under the misleading name 'vitamin B17' — even though neither is actually a vitamin.

Some people eat the kernels or take amygdalin/laetrile products hoping to fight cancer or improve health. A separate product, apricot kernel oil, is pressed from the seeds and used in cosmetics, massage oils, and skin and hair products.

Apricot kernels — especially the bitter variety — contain amygdalin. When amygdalin is broken down in the digestive tract, it can release cyanide, a poison that interferes with how the body's cells use oxygen.

Supporters of laetrile once claimed that cancer cells contain enzymes that release cyanide mainly inside tumors, supposedly killing the cancer while sparing healthy tissue. This theory has not held up in scientific study, and any cyanide released can harm normal cells throughout the body.

Apricot kernels also contain oils, fiber, and other plant compounds. The pressed oil is rich in fatty acids that can soften and moisturize skin, which is why it is used in cosmetics. Much of what is claimed about apricot kernels comes from laboratory or traditional sources rather than well-designed human studies.

The main safety concern is cyanide poisoning. Bitter apricot kernels and amygdalin/laetrile products can release dangerous amounts of cyanide once eaten. Even a small number of bitter kernels can be enough to cause harm, and children are especially vulnerable because of their smaller size.

Food safety agencies in several countries warn people not to eat raw bitter apricot kernels, and some limit how many can be sold. Poisoning has occurred from both eating kernels and from taking laetrile supplements.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: avoid apricot kernels and amygdalin/laetrile entirely. Cyanide exposure can be harmful to the developing baby and may pass into breast milk. Do not give apricot kernels or these supplements to children.

Because of these serious risks, you should talk with a doctor or pharmacist before using any apricot kernel or amygdalin product, and never use it to replace standard medical care for a serious condition.

Signs of cyanide poisoning can include nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, confusion, weakness, low blood pressure, a bluish color to the skin, difficulty breathing, and fainting. In serious cases, cyanide poisoning can cause seizures, coma, and death.

Symptoms may be worse when kernels are eaten on an empty stomach or together with certain foods. If you or someone else may have taken too much, treat it as a medical emergency and seek help right away or contact a poison control center.

Apricot kernel oil applied to the skin may rarely cause irritation or an allergic reaction in sensitive people, but it does not carry the same cyanide risk as eating the kernels.

There is no safe, established, or recommended dose of apricot kernels or amygdalin/laetrile for treating any health condition. Because of the risk of cyanide poisoning, health authorities advise against eating bitter apricot kernels at all.

If you are considering any apricot kernel product, follow the product label and, more importantly, check with a pharmacist or doctor first. We will not suggest specific amounts because even small quantities can be unsafe. Apricot kernel oil used on the skin should be used as directed on the cosmetic product label.