What is the potential impact of ingesting cherry seeds containing amygdalin?

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SUMMARY

The ingestion of cherry seeds containing amygdalin, a cyanogenic compound, poses a risk due to its potential to metabolize into hydrogen cyanide, which can cause cellular hypoxia. In this discussion, a friend ingested approximately 5 ml of cherry seeds, which is estimated to contain less than 5 mg of amygdalin, a quantity below the LD50 threshold for adult humans. It is crucial to contact the Poison Control Center or visit www.poison.org for guidance in such situations, as medical assistance cannot be provided in forums.

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This discussion is beneficial for toxicologists, emergency responders, health professionals, and individuals interested in the safety of consuming fruit seeds and their potential health risks.

Steve Cox
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I have some bitter/sweet news. A friend of mine recently ingested about 5 ml of cherry seeds. He cracked the stone open and took out the seeds, chewing them before swallowing. I've heard that cherry seeds contain amygdalin, which, in case you don't know, is a cyanogenic compound. It metabolizes in the stomach to form Hydrogen Cyanide, which is poisonous because it leads to cellular hypoxia. My question is what do I have to thank for my friend's continued life?

More background: The cherries consumed were bitter cherries. The seeds were several months old so I was wondering if amygdalin potentially decomposes into a less toxic state. He has a normal diet and his medications are Adderall and Pentropezol.

Thank you for your thoughts.
 
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First off, we cannot provide any kind of medical assistance here.
Answer:
LD50 is an estimate of how much of a compound ingested per Kg of body weight results in the death of 50% of the test subjects (obviously rats):
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2932206

5ml (less than ~5mg) is below that value for an adult human. Any time someone ingests something like what you saw, call the Poison Control Center or go to www.poison.org, as a first step.
 
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