Pumpkin Seed Oil

  Victor A. Vesuna, M.D.

Pumpkin Seed oil has been traditionally used as a salad dressing or a dessert topping, since using it as a cooking oil destroys its essential fatty acids.

It contains roughly 40% Omega-6 fatty acid and 41% monounsaturated fat.

Aside from this Pumpkin Seeds contain several major groups of active constituents:

· essential fatty acids, amino acids(L- tryptophan),

·  phytosterols (e.g. beta-sitosterol)

· minerals, and vitamins.

In complementary Medicine pumpkin seed oil has been used in the following disease conditions

· Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia(enlargement)

· Mild to Moderate Depression

· Prevention of Kidney Stones

The Science behind Pumpkin Seed Oil

Benign Prostaic Enlargement

Pumpkin seed oil has been used in combination with saw palmetto in two double-blind trials to effectively reduce symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) Only one open label trial evaluated the effectiveness of pumpkin seed oil alone for BPH.Animal studies have shown that pumpkin seed extracts can improve the function of the bladder and urethra. This might partially account for BPH symptom relief. So how does pumpkin seed oil work? In laboratory research using human prostate cells, pumpkin seed oil inhibited the conversion of the testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, a hormone that influences prostate size.This finding was further reinforced by a small human study, which found that prostate tissue of men taking pumpkin seed oil contained significantly less dihydrotestosterone than that of men taking nothing.

 

Kindney Stones

Two trials in Thailand have reportedly found that eating pumpkin seeds as a snack can help prevent the most common type of kidney stone, Pumpkin seeds appear to both reduce levels of substances that promote stone formation in the urine and increase levels of substances that inhibit stone formation. While the research supporting pumpkin seed oil and bladder health is less extensive, one study in Thailand showed that the oil helped maintain normal levels of urinary oxalate excretion, while increasing potassium values. Both of these actions promote bladder health.Additionally, animal research has revealed that pumpkin seed oil reduces bladder and urethral pressure, and increases bladder compliance — the amount of urine the bladder can comfortably hold.

 

Nature's Sleeping Pill

Pumpkin Seed oils contain a significant amount of the amino acid L- Tryptophan, this amino acid is then converted to Serotonin, reduced levels of this substance results in anxiety, depression and insomnia, L- Tryptophan supplementation can improve sleep in people suffering from low levels of this amino acid. Pumpkin seed oil extracts standardized for fatty acid content have been used in BPH trials. Men with BPH have used 160 mg three times per day with meals.¹⁶ Approximately 5–10 grams per day of pumpkin seeds may be needed for kidney stone prevention.

 

In summary

Pumpkin seed oil provides so many benefits to the human body, it can be added to existing standard and complementary therapies in the management of prostate gland enlargement , it is also  an excellent source of vitamins, minerals and essential oils, to date there are no drug interactions and allergic reactions reported.   Although it tends to be more resistant to oxidation than Flaxseed Oil, it is advisable to keep it in the refrigerator once the bottle is opened.