Apologies for not responding to this yesterday; I was busy. But I'm here now! :)
Here is what Fuhrman stated in the part I quoted: "I have been utilizing a high antioxidant, acrlyamide-free diet for many years with marked success. ... Studies in the medical literature support this method of treatment.[ii] "
Here is that footnoted section with *three* studies cited (I added carriage returns to make it clearer there are three studies):
Yep, I knew I brainfarted somewhere. I shall now revise my summary of the veracity of Fuhrman's claim: it's a load of shit, he's irresponsible for making it, and he's unethical for abusing journal references to support a claim they cannot. That is, my position remains the same, and I assure you it's not merely out of quacking. Let's look at all three studies then:
Kaartinen K, Lammi K, Hypen M, et al. Vegan diet alleviates fibromyalgia symptoms. Scand J Rheumatol 2000;29(5):308-13.
This is the one I discussed. It cannot be used as evidence that a raw vegan diet is a valid treatment for fibromyalgia, and it certainly can't be used to support the specific claims made by Fuhrman that the reason such a diet would work is because it's "a high antioxidant, acrlyamide-free diet".
Donaldson MS; Speight N; Loomis Fibromyalgia syndrome improved using a mostly raw vegetarian diet: an observational study. BMC Complement Altern Med 2001;1(1):7.
Oooooh, full article! Yes! Unfortunately, this article is worse than the last one. There was no control group (and by extension, no blinding). Again, there was no comparison to other diets. Six of twenty-six patients (23% of the study) dropped out after two months and aren't included in the statistics. Not all of the patients studied actually met the diagnostic requirements of FMS. The study does not state how many did not.
So okay, this study can't be used either. Not even in conjunction with the previous study, as both are at best at the preliminary stages. They're the sort of study you use to demonstrate that something is worth studying further when you're making a grant proposal.
Hanninen, Kaartinen K, Rauma AL, et al. Antioxidants in vegan diet and rheumatic disorders. Toxicology 2000 Nov 30;155(1-3):45-53.
Woah, I can find this one on Google. Two full articles, cool. Okay, this one is larger than the last two, but has virtually all of the problems that the first study has. There's no blinding, no comparison to other diets, nothing.
I wouldn't doubt increased fruit and vegetable intake is helpful. Does that mean it has to be raw? That animal products have to be cut out? That the rest of Fuhrman's discussion about toxins and the evils of baking and all of that is confirmed? Nope.