The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that's part of the male reproductive system. The prostate secretes an alkaline fluid that forms part of the seminal fluid in which sperm is carried. During male orgasm, the muscular contractions of the prostate help to move sperm and seminal fluid into the urethra --- the urinary tube from the bladder to the tip of the penis. Pumpkin seeds have been found to be helpful with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Pumpkin seeds are an alternative therapy; consult a health-care professional before use.
Prostate Problems
Problems in the prostate generally fall into three categories: prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia and cancer of the prostate. Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland that can cause painful or difficult urination. Cancer can occur in the prostate gland; prostate cancer is the third most common cause of death from cancer in men of all ages. Benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH is a condition that occurs in older men. The prostate gland surrounds the urethra, and as men age, the gland can gradually enlarge.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
BPH can cause urinary tract symptoms if the prostate gland becomes large enough to press on the urethra. The condition may be mild initially but symptoms tend to get worse over time. Symptoms of BPH include a weak urine stream, dribbling of urine and frequent need to urinate. Men with BPH may find they need to get up several times at night to urinate and do not feel they have completely emptied the bladder. In severe cases of BPH, urinary flow may be completely blocked and surgery is necessary to correct the problem.
Research
In a study reported in the 1998 German journal "Zeitschrift fur Phytotherapie," capsules containing 500 mg of pumpkin seed extract decreased BPH prostate symptoms by 47.4 percent. The winter 2009 issue of "Nutritional Research and Practice" reported research comparing placebo to pumpkin seed oil and saw palmetto in combination or alone. Pumpkin seed oil alone decreased prostate symptoms and increased urinary flow. A study of rats in the June 2011 issue of "Urologica Internationalis" found that pumpkin seeds reduced the weight of the prostate gland.
Considerations and Warnings
Pumpkin seeds are considered to be a safe treatment, although Providence Health and Services notes they may cause stomach upset. The dose used in the research varied from 500 mg of pumpkin seed extract to 160 mg three times a day with meals. BPH is not a condition that should be self-managed. If you have questions or concerns, consult a health-care professional.
References
- Providence Health and Services; Pumpkin; February 2011
- "Zeitschrift fur Phytotherapie"; Phytotherapy of BPH with Pumpkin Seeds - A Multicentric Clinical Trial; G. Schiebel-Schlosser and M. Friederich; 1998
- MayoClinic.com; Prostate Gland Enlargement; April 2004
- "Urologia Internationalis"; Inhibition of the Experimental Induction of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A Possible Role for Fluted Pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis Hook f.) Seeds; C. E. Ejike and L.U. Ezeanyika; June 2011
- "Nutrition Research and Practice"; Effects of Pumpkin Seed Oil And Saw Palmetto Oil in Korean Men With Symptomatic Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia; H. Hong et al.; Winter 2009
- PubMedHealth; Prostate Cancer; Scott Miller, M.D. and David Zieve, M.D.; September 2010
