[chrisy]

First, let me disclaim - I am most definitely not a propellerhead...

One thing I notice on the attached study is the "non walnut" group was instead supplemented with an Omega6 laden corn oil. So further messing up the omega 3/6 balance.

I also note the funding of the study - (California walnut commission). So there may have been some bias.

That said, there is an abundance of evidence supporting the view that walnuts are a very good (even "super") food and I'm not surprised that in some settings they would have anti-cancer effects.

The study notes vitamin E content, but most studies and concerns about antioxidants working against chemotherapies are really looking more at megadoses and supplements vs. nutrients coming from food. My take on it, which my onc supports, is that eating healthy foods in "normal" quantities at worst falls into the can't hurt, might help category. I doubt eating the quantity of walnuts noted would interfere with the action of chemo.

Personally, I don't discount the abundant evidence of the anti-cancer action of certain foods just because they lack double blind placebo based studies.

By the way, I just finished eating a pumpkin - flaxseed muffin with dried cranberries and WALNUTS...it was yummy. So I guess we all have our biases.

Check with your mom's oncologist, as always; but my guess is walnuts would be ok not only because of the nutritional value but also because they are calorie dense, which I think would be helpful at this point.