Pumpkin Seed Oil comes from pressed unhulled pumpkin seeds (dark green or deep red depending on the concentration) and has been used in some parts of Europe for more than 300 years.
There are two main sources of pumpkin seed oil, both are Cucurbitaceae squash plants. One is the American pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo), and the other is the Indian pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima).
Today, because pumpkin seed oil is rich in carotenoids, fat-soluble vitamins, and trace elements, it has long been considered to help prevent diseases, especially prostate-related symptoms
Do you know pumpkin seed oil benefits and side effects?
Table of Contents
- What are the benefits of pumpkin seed oil?
- Are there any side effects of pumpkin seed oil?
- Safety precautions
- Where to buy pumpkin seed oil health products recommended by most people?
What are the benefits of pumpkin seed oil?
1. Beneficial benign prostatic hyperplasia
Benign prostatic hyperplasia is an age-related male lower urinary tract symptom related to the unregulated proliferation of connective tissue, smooth muscles, and glandular epithelium. Among men over 40, the prevalence rate is between 15% and 60%.
Modifiable risk factors include serum dihydrotestosterone (DHT), obesity, glucose homeostasis, diet, exercise, and inflammation.
The main symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia may be urinary obstruction (weak urine flow, hesitation, micturition, incomplete urination) or bladder storage problems (frequent urination, urgency, nocturia), etc.
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (12-month, 47 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia) pointed out that the use of pumpkin seed oil and saw palmetto oil is clinically safe or may be approved as an effective benign prostatic hyperplasia Alternative medicine treatment.
Another prospective randomized clinical trial (6 months, for 100 patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia) pointed out that whether pumpkin seed oil or drugs (prazosin) are used, it can help improve the symptoms and quality of life of benign prostatic hyperplasia (The improvement effect is more significant with drugs, but neither prostate-specific antigen PSA has improved.
The underlying mechanism may be related to pumpkin seed oil’s inhibition of 5-α reductase activity, reduction of sex hormone-binding globulin, anti-inflammatory effects, and changes in cholesterol metabolism.
*Conclusion: The use of pumpkin seed oil may have a positive effect on the improvement of benign prostatic hyperplasia, but more research is still needed to further verify.
2. Beneficial androgenic alopecia, also known as male alopecia
Androgenetic alopecia is a hereditary, androgen-dependent skin disease that is more common in men. It occasionally appears in women, usually starting at the age of 20, affecting nearly 50% of men around the age of 50.
There are limited treatment methods for male alopecia, mainly including minoxidil, 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, and hair transplantation. However, due to possible drug side effects, such as excessive hair growth, decreased libido, sexual dysfunction, and production defects, patients seem to prefer alternative treatments with fewer side effects.
A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study (for 24 weeks, 76 male patients with androgenetic alopecia) pointed out that oral pumpkin seed oil (daily dose 400 mg) can help improve androgenetic alopecia (hair volume increase) Up to 40%, only 10% increase in the placebo group).
*Conclusion: Oral pumpkin seed oil is positive for mild to moderate androgenic alopecia, but more research is still needed to further verify.
3. Beneficial overactive bladder
Overactive bladder is a clinical feature characterized by urgency, accompanied by frequent urination (≥8 urination frequency within 24 hours) and nocturia (wake up more than once a night), regardless of urinary incontinence. It affects about 17% of the US population (about 38 million people).
In addition, patients with overactive bladders are often in poor health and have limited activity, promoting social isolation, depression, falls-related injuries, sleep disturbances, and events related to reduced quality of life.
An open trial (12 weeks, for 45 patients with overactive bladder) pointed out that oral administration of pumpkin seed oil (daily dose of 10 g) can help improve the symptoms of overactive bladder (as measured by overactive bladder score/OABSS, including daytime frequency, nighttime frequency, urgency, and urinary incontinence are improved).
*Conclusion: Oral pumpkin seeds can positively improve the symptoms of overactive bladder, but it is limited to a small sample and still needs further verification by a large randomized controlled trial.
4. Beneficial female menopause symptoms
Menopause, or menopause transition, refers to a certain period of time from the beginning of the irregular menstrual cycle to the last menstrual cycle, characterized by the fluctuation of reproductive hormones.
This period is characterized by irregular menstruation, long and heavy periods, accompanied by amenorrhea, hot flashes, irritability, mood swings, insomnia, vaginal dryness, inattention, mental confusion, stress incontinence, impulsive incontinence, osteoporosis, Depression, headache, vasomotor symptoms, insomnia, etc.
However, some symptoms are difficult to distinguish due to loss of ovarian function, or aging, and social environmental stress.
A randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study (12 weeks, 35 postmenopausal women) pointed out that pumpkin seed oil has a better menopausal symptom improvement effect (reduce hot flashes, headaches, headaches, The severity of joint pain), and can significantly increase high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) and reduce diastolic blood pressure.
*Conclusion: Pumpkin seed oil may have a positive effect on improving the symptoms of menopause in women, but it is limited to small sample size and still needs to be further verified by a large randomized controlled trial.
Are there any side effects of pumpkin seed oil?
As of now, taking pumpkin seed oil at an appropriate dose has no obvious side effects, but like any oil product, excessive amounts can cause gastrointestinal discomfort.
Safety Precautions
May have a blood pressure-lowering effect, please use with caution if taking any blood pressure-lowering drugs.
People who have been allergic to pumpkin, pumpkin seeds, or related melon and fruit foods should avoid using it (may cause allergic reactions).
Where to buy pumpkin seed oil health products recommended by most people?
In recent years, food safety problems in various countries have exploded, and it is not healthy but black-hearted products that everyone spends on. Therefore, European and American products with relatively strict quality control have become popular products.
And iHerb.com is a large-scale medical cosmetics e-commerce company in the United States. It has a high satisfaction rate of 97% in the evaluation of Google customers. It provides global home delivery so that you can buy it without risking buying fakes through purchasing high-quality health products.
