Pumpkin Seed Oil for Hair Loss: What One Trial Found
A small randomized trial found more hair growth in men taking pumpkin seed oil than placebo. Here is what the study showed, why one trial is not enough and how it compares with treatments with stronger evidence.
Topic: Hair Growth Ingredients: Peptides, Caffeine and More
Short answer: one small randomized trial is encouraging, but it is not enough to call pumpkin seed oil a proven hair-loss treatment. In the 2014 study, men with mild to moderate pattern hair loss who took 400 mg of pumpkin seed oil a day for 24 weeks had a 40% increase in mean hair count, compared with 10% in the placebo group. The study included 76 men, did not include women, and has not been confirmed by larger trials. We did not find comparable trials of pumpkin seed oil applied to the scalp.
What the 2014 trial found
Researchers randomly assigned 76 men with mild to moderate androgenetic alopecia to take 400 mg of pumpkin seed oil a day or a placebo for 24 weeks, without either the participants or the researchers knowing who took which. Pumpkin seed oil trial
- Mean hair count rose by 40% with pumpkin seed oil and 10% with placebo.
- Men taking pumpkin seed oil rated their improvement and satisfaction higher.
- Side effects did not differ between the two groups.
Why one trial is not enough
- It was small. Seventy-six people is a modest sample, and small trials can overestimate effects. Why study size matters
- It only included men. The result cannot be assumed for female pattern hair loss.
- It lasted 24 weeks. Longer-term effects are unknown.
- The full formula matters. The published abstract does not describe the complete capsule contents, so the result cannot be credited to pumpkin seed oil alone or applied to other products.
- It has not been replicated in a larger independent trial.
An ingredient study is a reason for interest, not proof that a particular supplement will work. Does an ingredient study prove a product works?
How it is thought to work
Researchers have suggested that compounds in pumpkin seed oil might reduce the activity of 5-alpha reductase, the enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT, which drives pattern hair loss. That idea has not been confirmed in people, and the trial did not measure it. DHT and hair loss
Safety and practical points
Pumpkin seeds are an ordinary food and side effects in the trial were similar to placebo. Supplements, however, are not approved by the FDA before sale, and they can interact with medicines. FDA 101: Dietary supplements Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before starting a supplement if you take regular medicines, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a medical condition.
How it compares with better-studied options
| Option | Strength of evidence for pattern hair loss |
|---|---|
| Topical minoxidil source | Multiple randomized trials; over-the-counter drug |
| Finasteride (men) source | Randomized trials; prescription medicine with known side effects |
| Pumpkin seed oil source | One small randomized trial in men |
| Saw palmetto source | Limited evidence; too little for firm conclusions |
For more on supplement ingredients, see saw palmetto for hair loss and do hair supplements help without a deficiency?
Where Folivis NOURISH fits
Folivis NOURISH Hair Growth Supplement contains 300 mg of pumpkin seed extract per four-capsule serving, alongside other ingredients including saw palmetto, vitamins and minerals. That is a different preparation and amount from the 400 mg of pumpkin seed oil in the 2014 trial, and NOURISH itself has not been tested in that trial or in a published hair-growth trial. NOURISH product facts
NOURISH is a dietary supplement for adults. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and it should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Quick answers
How much pumpkin seed oil did the hair-loss trial use?
Participants took 400 mg of pumpkin seed oil a day for 24 weeks. That is a specific supplement dose, not an amount of seeds or culinary oil.
Does eating pumpkin seeds help hair loss?
Pumpkin seeds are a nutritious food, but no trial has shown that eating them treats pattern hair loss. The trial tested a daily oil supplement.
Can you put pumpkin seed oil on your scalp?
You can use it as a cosmetic oil, but we did not find trials showing that applying it to the scalp helps hair grow. The published trial tested it by mouth.
Is pumpkin seed oil safe for women with hair loss?
The trial included only men, so it does not show benefit in women. Pumpkin seeds are a common food, but check with a clinician before taking supplements, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or take medicines.