It's November, so pumpkins are everywhere. But the part of the pumpkin getting the most attention online this year isn't the pie filling. It's the oil pressed from the seeds. Searches for pumpkin seed oil have more than tripled over the past year, and I'm seeing it pitched as a natural fix for thinning hair and for a bladder that won't let you sleep through the night.
Those are real problems that bother a lot of people, and it's natural to want something gentle to try first. So let's look at what pumpkin seed oil can and can't do.
What is pumpkin seed oil?
It's exactly what it sounds like. The seeds of certain pumpkins, mostly a variety grown in Austria (right where I visited this summer!!), are roasted and pressed into a thick, dark green oil with a nutty taste. In central Europe people have drizzled it on salads and soups for generations.
Nutritionally, it's mostly unsaturated fat. It also contains plant compounds called phytosterols. Those phytosterols are the reason for the buzz. Some lab research suggests they may partly block the enzyme that turns testosterone into DHT, the hormone behind male pattern hair loss and prostate growth. That's the same enzyme that the prescription medicine finasteride blocks, though far more powerfully.
You'll find pumpkin seed oil sold two ways: as a cooking oil in a bottle, and as capsules in the supplement aisle.
What does the research show for hair?
This is the claim driving most of the searches, and it mostly traces back to one study. In 2014, researchers in Korea gave 76 men with male pattern hair loss either 400 mg of pumpkin seed oil a day or a placebo for six months. The men taking the oil had about a 40 percent increase in hair count, compared with about 10 percent in the placebo group.
That's an encouraging result! But a few things keep me from getting too excited. The study was small. It was funded by the company that made the capsules. And the capsules were a branded product, so it isn't completely clear that pumpkin seed oil was the only thing doing the work. Hair thickness didn't change, either. Nobody has repeated this study in a larger group of men.
For women, the evidence is even thinner. A small study of women with thinning hair compared pumpkin seed oil rubbed on the scalp with minoxidil foam. Both groups improved, but minoxidil did better.
So pumpkin seed oil might help a little. It's not in the same league as the treatments we know work.
What about the prostate and bladder?
Pumpkin seeds have been used for urinary symptoms in Germany for decades, and this is where the research is a bit stronger.
The biggest study, done in Germany, followed about 1,400 men with an enlarged prostate for a full year. Men who ate a spoonful of whole pumpkin seeds twice a day were somewhat more likely to report fewer urinary symptoms than men taking a placebo. Interestingly, a pumpkin seed extract capsule tested in the same study didn't beat placebo at all. The improvement with the seeds was modest, and it didn't shrink the prostate.
For overactive bladder, which affects both women and men, there's a small Japanese study where people took pumpkin seed oil for 12 weeks and said their urgency and nighttime trips to the bathroom got better. But there was no placebo group, and bladder symptoms are famous for improving with placebo. I'd call that a promising start and nothing more. I’m not recommending it any time soon.
Is it safe?
For most people, yes. Pumpkin seed oil is a food, and the studies haven't turned up serious side effects. A few people notice an upset stomach. It's still pure fat, at about 120 calories a tablespoon, so pouring it on everything adds up.
A couple of cautions. If you have a seed allergy, skip it. And if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, there's just not enough data, so I'd stick to eating the seeds as a snack rather than taking concentrated capsules.
As with every supplement, quality varies a lot. Supplements aren't tested the way medications are, so look for a USP or NSF seal on capsules.
Don't let it delay a real diagnosis
This is the part I care about most. Hair loss and urinary symptoms can be signs of something that needs attention.
Sudden or patchy hair loss, especially in women, can come from thyroid problems, iron deficiency, hormone changes or a recent illness or stress. Those are things we can test for and treat.
Getting up at night to urinate and a weak stream are common with an enlarged prostate. But the same symptoms can show up with diabetes, a urinary infection, sleep apnea, certain medications or, rarely, prostate or bladder cancer. Please don't spend a year on capsules before getting checked. And if you ever see blood in your urine, call us right away.
Things that work well
If you're dealing with these problems, we have options with much more evidence behind them.
For hair loss, minoxidil and finasteride both have years of research showing they slow loss and regrow hair in many people. Low dose oral minoxidil has become a popular choice too. Checking your iron and thyroid levels is a simple first step.
For urinary symptoms, there's a lot we can do before any prescription. Cutting back on fluids in the evening and easing up on caffeine and alcohol help many people. Pelvic floor exercises are another great tool. When those aren't enough, there are well studied medicines for both an enlarged prostate and an overactive bladder.
The bottom line
Pumpkin seed oil is a healthy, tasty oil with some early research behind it. One small study suggests it may help male pattern hair loss, and eating whole pumpkin seeds may modestly ease prostate symptoms. It's low risk, so if you want to try it, go ahead. Just don't expect miracles, and don't let it replace a real look at what's causing your symptoms. Personally, I'd rather you drizzle it on your salad and toss a handful of roasted pumpkin seeds on your soup than spend a lot on capsules.
Want help figuring out what's going on?
At Homestead, we have the time to talk through hair changes and bathroom troubles without rushing, even the embarrassing parts. We can check the right labs and put together a plan that fits you, including a look at every supplement you take. What's been bugging you that you haven't gotten around to asking about?
Doc Langley
