Pumpkin seed oil is a common cooking oil but also a supplement.
In addition to being an incredibly versatile ingredient, pumpkin seed oil boasts a rich flavor and a vibrant red-orange hue.
It has also been associated with a long list of benefits and can be a great addition to a healthy, well-rounded diet.
Sometimes also referred to as nugget oil, pumpkin seed oil is an oil extracted from pumpkin seeds. It is widely used as a cooking oil and has a unique, nutty flavor that works well in a number of delicious recipes.
It is also marketed as a dietary supplement in convenient, easy-to-use capsules and can also be found in many hair masks and serums.
Pumpkin seed oil has been associated with a number of notable health benefits from the various important nutrients it contains.
Pumpkin seed oil is rich in heart-healthy fats.
In fact, a 1 tablespoon (15 ml) serving of pumpkin seed oil provides 14 grams of fat, most of which comes from polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids.
Pumpkin seed oil is particularly high in linoleic acid, a type of omega-6 fatty acid that may be associated with better heart health and blood sugar management.
In addition, pumpkin seed oil contains high amounts of antioxidant compounds, including polyphenols and carotenoids, which may help protect against inflammation and chronic disease.
Pumpkin seed oil has been linked to several potential health benefits.
Pumpkin seed oil supplements are often used to promote prostate health.
They appear to be particularly useful for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a condition characterized by an enlarged prostate gland that can block the flow of urine.
According to an older study of 47 men with BPH, taking 320 mg of pumpkin seed oil daily for 12 months reduced symptoms, improved quality of life and increased urine flow.
Some research suggests that pumpkin seed oil may also help treat other urinary tract problems.
For example, a study of 45 people showed that consuming 10 grams of pumpkin seed oil daily for 12 weeks reduced symptoms of overactive bladder.
Several studies have found that pumpkin seed oil may be beneficial for heart health.
In one small study of postmenopausal women, daily intake of 3 grams of pumpkin seed oil led to significant improvements in blood vessel stiffness and function, which may help prevent hypertension.
Another 2011 study showed that pumpkin seed oil supplementation increased HDL (good) cholesterol in 35 postmenopausal women.
Some older animal studies have observed similar results, reporting that pumpkin seed oil may help reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels while also improving blood pressure.
However, more high-quality studies in humans are needed to determine how pumpkin seed oil may affect heart health in the general population.
Pumpkin seed oil is sometimes used as a supplement or applied locally to support healthy hair growth.
In one study, 76 men with hair loss took 400 mg of pumpkin seed oil or a placebo daily for 24 weeks.
At the end of the study, those who took pumpkin seed oil reported higher scores in hair loss improvements and had four times more hair growth than those in the control group.
Another small study found that pumpkin seed oil could also increase hair growth for women with hair loss when applied locally over a period of 3 months.
Similarly, an animal study showed that topical application of pumpkin seed oil increased hair growth in mice after 3 weeks.
