Pumpkin seed oil is cold pressed from unhulled pumpkin seeds. Depending on the concentration, the oil ranges from dark green to deep reddish-brown. It has been used in parts of Central Europe, particularly Austria and Slovenia, for over 300 years as both a culinary ingredient and a folk remedy.

Two main species of pumpkin provide the seeds used for oil extraction. The first is Cucurbita pepo, commonly known as the American or field pumpkin. The second is Cucurbita maxima, sometimes called the winter squash or Indian pumpkin. Both belong to the Cucurbitaceae family, and their oils share similar nutritional profiles.

What makes pumpkin seed oil interesting nutritionally? It contains high levels of carotenoids (particularly beta-carotene and lutein), fat-soluble vitamins (E and K), and trace minerals including zinc and magnesium. The oil is also rich in unsaturated fatty acids, with linoleic acid (omega-6) and oleic acid (omega-9) making up the bulk of its fat content. It contains plant sterols, particularly beta-sitosterol, which may explain some of its reported effects on prostate health.

What does the clinical evidence actually show?

I’ve gone through the available research on pumpkin seed oil, and I should be upfront: most studies are small, and some are methodologically weak. That said, there are a few areas where the evidence looks reasonably promising.

1. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate)

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is an age-related condition affecting men, where the prostate gland gradually enlarges. This growth can obstruct urine flow and cause what doctors call lower urinary tract symptoms. Among men over 40, prevalence ranges from 15% to 60%, increasing with age.

The symptoms are familiar to many older men: weak urinary stream, hesitancy when starting to urinate, feeling like the bladder hasn’t emptied completely, frequent urination, urgency, and nocturia (waking at night to urinate).

A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial followed 47 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia for 12 months. Participants received either pumpkin seed oil combined with saw palmetto oil, or placebo. The combination treatment appeared clinically safe and showed improvements in urinary symptoms. The researchers suggested it might serve as an alternative approach for men seeking to avoid pharmaceutical options [1].

A separate prospective randomised trial compared pumpkin seed oil against prazosin (an alpha-blocker medication) in 100 men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia over 6 months. Both treatments improved symptoms and quality of life, though the pharmaceutical showed more pronounced effects. Neither treatment affected prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels [2].

Why might pumpkin seed oil help? Researchers have proposed several mechanisms. The oil may inhibit 5-alpha reductase, the enzyme that converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). It might reduce levels of sex hormone-binding globulin, have anti-inflammatory effects, or alter cholesterol metabolism in prostate tissue. The high beta-sitosterol content could also play a role, as plant sterols have shown benefits for prostate symptoms in other studies.

My honest assessment: there’s something here worth investigating further. The evidence isn’t strong enough to replace proven treatments, but for men with mild symptoms who prefer to try natural approaches first, pumpkin seed oil seems a reasonable option to discuss with their doctor.

2. Androgenetic alopecia (pattern hair loss)

Androgenetic alopecia, commonly called male pattern baldness, affects roughly half of men by age 50. The condition also occurs in women, typically presenting as diffuse thinning rather than the characteristic receding hairline men experience.

Current treatments have significant limitations. Minoxidil requires twice-daily application indefinitely. Finasteride, a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, can cause sexual side effects that concern many men. Hair transplantation is expensive and invasive. This leaves room for alternative approaches with better tolerability profiles.

A randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind study examined pumpkin seed extract in 76 men with mild to moderate androgenetic alopecia over 24 weeks. Participants took 400 mg of pumpkin seed oil daily or placebo. The treatment group showed a 40% increase in hair count, compared with 10% in the placebo group. The men also reported improved satisfaction with their hair [3].

The proposed mechanism again involves 5-alpha reductase inhibition. By blocking conversion of testosterone to DHT, pumpkin seed oil might slow the miniaturisation of hair follicles that characterises pattern hair loss.

One study in 76 men is interesting but not definitive. The hair count methodology, while standard, has limitations. And 24 weeks is a relatively short duration for hair growth studies. Still, for men who want to try something before committing to pharmaceutical treatments, pumpkin seed oil supplements appear safe.

3. Overactive bladder symptoms

Overactive bladder affects approximately 17% of the population. The condition involves urgent need to urinate, frequent urination (eight or more times in 24 hours), and nocturia, with or without urinary incontinence.

People with overactive bladder often report reduced quality of life, social isolation, depression, disrupted sleep, and increased risk of falls (from rushing to the toilet). The condition isn’t just an inconvenience; it meaningfully affects daily functioning.

An open-label trial gave pumpkin seed extract (10 grams daily) to 45 patients with overactive bladder for 12 weeks. Symptoms improved across all measured domains: daytime frequency, nighttime frequency, sense of urgency, and urgency incontinence [4].

The limitation here is substantial: this was an open-label study without a placebo control. Patients knew they were receiving treatment, which creates expectation bias. Bladder symptoms respond strongly to placebo effects. So while the results look encouraging, we really need properly controlled trials before drawing firm conclusions.

For more information about bladder health management, see our guides on overactive bladder and nocturia.

4. Menopause symptoms

Menopause marks the end of menstrual cycles, typically occurring in women’s late 40s to early 50s. The transition involves fluctuating reproductive hormones and often brings symptoms including hot flushes, irritability, mood changes, sleep problems, vaginal dryness, and difficulty concentrating.

A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study examined pumpkin seed oil in 35 postmenopausal women over 12 weeks. The treatment group showed improvements in hot flushes, headaches, and joint pain severity. Additionally, HDL cholesterol (the protective kind) increased, and diastolic blood pressure decreased [5].

The sample size here is tiny. Thirty-five women is barely enough to detect anything statistically, let alone draw clinical conclusions. The positive results on HDL and blood pressure are intriguing but need replication in larger groups.

Women dealing with menopause symptoms have many options to discuss with their healthcare providers. For more on natural approaches, see our article on health foods beneficial for menopause.

5. Blood pressure reduction

Pumpkin seeds are good sources of several nutrients linked to cardiovascular health: magnesium, potassium, and the amino acid L-arginine.

L-arginine serves as a precursor to nitric oxide, which causes blood vessels to relax and dilate. A review of seven meta-analyses found that L-arginine supplementation reduced systolic blood pressure by 2.2 to 5.4 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by 2.7 to 3.1 mmHg in hypertensive adults. In pregnant women with gestational hypertension, diastolic pressure dropped by 4.9 mmHg [6].

Separately, a meta-analysis of magnesium supplementation trials showed mean reductions of 4.18 mmHg in systolic and 2.27 mmHg in diastolic blood pressure [7].

The problem with applying this to pumpkin seed oil specifically: these studies examined L-arginine and magnesium supplements at therapeutic doses, not the amounts you’d get from food-based sources. Pumpkin seed oil does contain these nutrients, but whether the concentrations are high enough to meaningfully affect blood pressure remains unclear. Eating pumpkin seeds or taking pumpkin seed oil won’t deliver the same doses used in these supplement trials.

What about side effects?

Pumpkin seed oil appears well-tolerated in the studies conducted so far. No serious adverse events have been reported at standard supplementation doses.

As with any oil, taking excessive amounts may cause digestive upset, including nausea, stomach discomfort, or diarrhoea. This is a general caution for fat-based supplements rather than something specific to pumpkin seed oil.

Safety precautions

Blood pressure medications: Given the theoretical effects on blood pressure discussed above, people taking antihypertensive medications should use pumpkin seed oil cautiously. Monitor your blood pressure if you add it to your routine.

Allergy: Anyone allergic to pumpkin, pumpkin seeds, or related cucurbit plants (squash, courgettes, melons, cucumbers) should avoid pumpkin seed oil. Allergic reactions can range from mild skin symptoms to more serious responses.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Insufficient safety data exists for these populations. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, discuss any supplements with your healthcare provider before using them.

Surgery: Some sources suggest stopping pumpkin seed oil 2 weeks before scheduled surgery due to theoretical effects on blood sugar and blood pressure. This is precautionary rather than based on documented problems.

Recommended dosage

Clinical studies have used varying doses. For prostate symptoms and hair loss, 400 mg of pumpkin seed oil or extract daily has been the most common dose in research. For overactive bladder, one study used 10 grams of pumpkin seed extract daily, though this represents an unusually high amount.

If you’re considering pumpkin seed oil supplementation, starting with 400-1000 mg daily seems reasonable based on the available evidence. Look for products standardised to contain specific levels of fatty acids or beta-sitosterol.

Nettle: benefits and side effects - another herb traditionally used for prostate health
Fish oil: effects and contraindications - for cardiovascular health
Soy isoflavones - phytoestrogens that may help with menopause symptoms

References

Marks LS, Partin AW, Epstein JI, et al. Effects of a saw palmetto herbal blend in men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia. J Urol. 2000;163(5):1451-1456. PubMed
Shiravan M, et al. Comparison of the effects of pumpkin seed oil and prazosin on benign prostatic hyperplasia. Urol J. 2014;11(5):1903-1908. PubMed
Cho YH, Lee SY, Jeong DW, et al. Effect of pumpkin seed oil on hair growth in men with androgenetic alopecia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2014;2014:549721. PubMed
Nishimura M, et al. Pumpkin seed oil extracted from Cucurbita maxima improves urinary disorder in human overactive bladder. J Tradit Complement Med. 2014;4(1):72-74. PubMed
Gossell-Williams M, Hyde C, Hunter T, et al. Improvement in HDL cholesterol in postmenopausal women supplemented with pumpkin seed oil: pilot study. Climacteric. 2011;14(5):558-564. PubMed
McNeal CJ, et al. Safety and effectiveness of arginine in adults. J Nutr. 2016;146(12):2587S-2593S. PubMed
Zhang X, Li Y, Del Gobbo LC, et al. Effects of magnesium supplementation on blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trials. Hypertension. 2016;68(2):324-333. PubMed