Walnut micronutrients and health effects in people and lab studies
What it found
Walnuts and their micronutrients have been linked to better heart and metabolic health, and lab studies suggest some may fight cancer and inflammation.
The work includes both human and laboratory studies.
What they found
Animal and lab studies
Phytomelatonin and cancer
Walnut phytomelatonin has anticancer effects. The main walnut polyphenols and their metabolites, ellagitannins and urolithins, share these effects.
Studies in people and animals
Alpha-linolenic acid effects
Alpha-linolenic acid, a key walnut component, is turned into bioactive oxylipins. It has been shown to protect microglial cells from inflammation in lab studies, and is linked to lower death rates from heart attacks, possibly by preventing irregular heartbeats.
Other findings
Phytosterols and cholesterol
Phytosterols in walnuts are related to the cholesterol-lowering effect seen with nut consumption.
Nonsodium minerals and heart health
Nonsodium minerals are associated with better cardiometabolic health.
What the authors conclude
“The conclusion is that walnuts are optimal healthful foods.”
Also in their conclusions
- They highlight new evidence on the health-promoting properties of walnuts and their main micronutrient components.
- They conclude that walnuts are optimal healthful foods.
How it was done
Walnuts have a good mix of bioactive nutrients, and recent studies have found several beneficial effects on metabolic pathways and health outcomes. The authors felt a review was timely and relevant.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This is a review of other studies, so it cannot provide new data on cause and effect.
- The anticancer effects of walnut phytomelatonin and polyphenols come from lab studies, not from people.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi Sunyer, Barcelona; Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid; University of Barcelona, Spain
The paper
- Title
- Beneficial effects of walnut consumption on human health: role of micronutrients
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- Studies in people · animals · lab
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Ros E, Izquierdo-Pulido M, Sala-Vila A (2018). Beneficial effects of walnut consumption on human health: role of micronutrients. Current opinion in clinical nutrition and metabolic care. doi:10.1097/MCO.0000000000000508PubMed 30199393DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error