Effect of Pumpkin Seed Oil on Hair Growth in Men with Androgenetic Alopecia: A Randomized, Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled Trial

Abstract

Pumpkin seed oil (PSO) has been shown to block the action of 5-alpha reductase and to have antiandrogenic effects on rats. This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study was designed to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of PSO for treatment of hair growth in male patients with mild to moderate androgenetic alopecia (AGA). 76 male patients with AGA received 400 mg of PSO per day or a placebo for 24 weeks. Change over time in scalp hair growth was evaluated by four outcomes: assessment of standardized clinical photographs by a blinded investigator; patient self-assessment scores; scalp hair thickness; and scalp hair counts. Reports of adverse events were collected throughout the study. After 24 weeks of treatment, self-rated improvement score and self-rated satisfaction scores in the PSO-treated group were higher than in the placebo group (P = 0.013, 0.003). The PSO-treated group had more hair after treatment than at baseline, compared to the placebo group (P < 0.001). Mean hair count increases of 40% were observed in PSO-treated men at 24 weeks, whereas increases of 10% were observed in placebo-treated men (P < 0.001). Adverse effects were not different in the two groups.

Effectiveness of Hair Care Products Containing Placental Growth Factor for the Treatment of Postpartum Telogen Effluvium

“…The pumpkin extract group had more hair after treatment at the baseline than the placebo group (P < 0.001). The mean hair count improved by 40% in the pumpkin extract group at 24 weeks [8].…”

“…Cho et al [8] suggested that pumpkin extract blocks the action of 5-alpha reductase and has antiandrogenic effects on rats [21,22]. In clinical trials, after 24 weeks of treatment, the self-rated improvement score in the pumpkin extract group was higher than in the placebo group.…”

“…Therefore, we conducted a prospective study in which female subjects who had recently given birth and used hair care products that contained placental growth factor (PlGF) [7] from horses as their main constituent, along with various other nutrients such as pumpkin extract [8], panthenol, and niacinamide [9], which is known to be an effective material in the treatment of hair loss, were observed in follow-up visits.…”

Medicinal bioactivites and allergenic properties of pumpkin seeds: review upon a pediatric food anaphylaxis case report

“…Their multiflorane-type triterpenes have melanogenesis inhibitory activity and thus may be potential skin whitening agents (36). Pumpkin seed oil has shown to be effective for the treatment of hair growth in male patients with mild to moderate androgenetic alopecia (37). Table I summarizes the medicinal and pharmacological effects of Cucurbita sp.…”

Alternative Medicine for Hair Loss

“…Pumpkin seed oil (PSO, family Cucurbitaceae) has been used for treating symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia through its inhibitory effect on 5α-reductase and antiandrogenic effect [60,61]. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, self-rated improvement score, and self-rated satisfaction scores in the PSO-treated group were higher compared with the placebo group after oral administration of PSO at dosage of 400 mg/day for 24 weeks.…”