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At a Glance
- Main evidence One 24-week trial in 76 men with male-pattern hair loss found hair counts rose 40% with 400 mg of pumpkin seed oil a day, vs 10% with placebo1.
- Not yet confirmed That trial hasn’t been repeated, and its authors said replication is needed1. A 2026 network meta-analysis still ranked it among supplements that improved hair density4.
- Women In a small 3-month trial, both pumpkin seed oil and minoxidil foam improved scalp measures, but there was no placebo group3.
- Safety Side effects in the hair trial were no different from placebo, and sexual function didn’t change1.
- Top pick Micro Ingredients Saw Palmetto with Pumpkin Seed Oil – 400 mg of pumpkin seed oil per serving, the same daily amount used in the hair trial, from our guide to the best pumpkin seed oil with saw palmetto supplements.
The Short Answer: Pumpkin seed oil may help hair growth in men with male-pattern hair loss, but the evidence rests mostly on one small trial. In that study, men who took 400 mg a day for 24 weeks had 40% more hair on average, compared with 10% on placebo1. The trial was funded by the company that supplied the capsules, and it hasn’t been repeated.
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It’s low risk, so it’s a reasonable add-on to try, but it’s not a replacement for proven treatments such as finasteride or minoxidil4. To compare products, see our guide to the best pumpkin seed oil with saw palmetto supplements.
Why Pumpkin Seed Oil Is Linked to Hair Growth
Male-pattern hair loss is driven partly by DHT, a hormone made from testosterone by the enzyme 5-alpha reductase. Pumpkin seed oil has been shown to block this enzyme in rats1, which is the same theory behind saw palmetto. This hasn’t been confirmed in people; the hair trial didn’t measure DHT1. For more on the theory, see how saw palmetto blocks DHT.
Pumpkin Seed Oil Hair Studies
| Study | Who and what | Result | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cho 20141 | 76 men with mild to moderate male-pattern hair loss; 400 mg/day oral or placebo; 24 weeks | Hair count +40% vs +10%; higher self-rated improvement | One trial; funded by capsule supplier; crown results only2 |
| Women’s trial 20213 | 60 women with female-pattern hair loss; pumpkin seed oil or minoxidil 5% foam; 3 months | Both improved on scalp exams | No placebo group; small and short |
| Network meta-analysis 20264 | 19 trials of supplements, 1,658 people | Pumpkin seed oil improved hair density vs placebo | Mostly small trials, per the authors |
The Men’s Trial
In the trial, 76 men took 4 capsules a day (400 mg of pumpkin seed oil in total) or a look-alike placebo for 24 weeks. Hair counts rose 40% on pumpkin seed oil and 10% on placebo, and men on the oil rated their improvement and satisfaction higher1. The capsules were a branded product, Octa Sabal Plus, supplied by the company that funded the study1.
The authors listed their own limits: they didn’t measure DHT, and photo-based hair counts can be imprecise. They said the results need to be repeated1. A published comment added that results for the front of the scalp were collected but not reported, and that hair trials should last at least a year because hormone levels change with the seasons2.
Women
In a 2021 trial, 60 women with female-pattern hair loss used pumpkin seed oil or minoxidil 5% foam for 3 months. Both groups had fewer thin vellus hairs and less variation in hair thickness, and the pumpkin seed oil group had more regrowing hairs3. Without a placebo group, the trial can’t show how much was due to pumpkin seed oil. The abstract doesn’t say whether the oil was taken by mouth or applied to the scalp.
Our Top Pumpkin Seed Oil Pick
Micro Ingredients Saw Palmetto with Pumpkin Seed Oil
400 mg pumpkin seed oil400 mg saw palmetto2 softgels a day
The #1 pick in our guide to pumpkin seed oil with saw palmetto supplements. Each serving gives 400 mg of cold-pressed pumpkin seed oil, the same daily amount used in the 24-week hair trial, plus 400 mg of saw palmetto. The product itself hasn’t been tested in a hair trial.
Pumpkin Seed Oil vs Minoxidil, Finasteride and Saw Palmetto
Finasteride and minoxidil are the standard treatments for male-pattern hair loss4. Pumpkin seed oil hasn’t been compared with them in men. Saw palmetto, often paired with pumpkin seed oil, helped fewer men than finasteride in a 2-year study (38% vs 68%)5. See our guides to saw palmetto for hair loss and saw palmetto vs finasteride.
Topical or Oral?
The men’s trial tested oral capsules1. We didn’t find trials of pumpkin seed oil rubbed into the scalp in men. Any benefit from topical use is unproven.
How Much Pumpkin Seed Oil for Hair Growth
The men’s trial used 400 mg a day, taken as 2 capsules 30 minutes before breakfast and 2 before dinner1. Products with less pumpkin seed oil per serving haven’t been tested for hair. For other uses and doses, see our guide to pumpkin seed oil benefits.
How Long Does It Take to Work?
The men’s trial measured results at 24 weeks1, and the women’s trial at 3 months3. Plan to give it about 6 months before judging. The published comment suggested a year would give a clearer answer2.
Side Effects and Safety
- In the trial: Side effects were no different from placebo, and a sexual function questionnaire showed no difference between groups1.
- Allergy: Pumpkin seed allergy is rare but has been reported6.
- Check the cause first: Sudden, patchy or fast hair loss can have other causes, so see a doctor before treating it yourself.
Final Verdict
Pumpkin seed oil has one encouraging trial for male-pattern hair loss: 40% more hair vs 10% on placebo after 24 weeks1. But that trial was small, industry-funded and hasn’t been repeated, and evidence in women is weaker3. It’s a low-risk add-on, not a replacement for finasteride or minoxidil.
If you want to try it, Micro Ingredients Saw Palmetto with Pumpkin Seed Oil gives 400 mg of pumpkin seed oil per serving, matching the trial dose, although this product hasn’t been tested itself. Compare all 7 picks in our guide to the best pumpkin seed oil with saw palmetto supplements.
Important: This guide is for general information and isn’t medical advice. See a doctor or dermatologist about hair loss, especially if it’s sudden or patchy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does pumpkin seed oil help hair growth?
Possibly. In one trial, men taking 400 mg a day had 40% more hair after 24 weeks, vs 10% on placebo1. The result hasn’t been repeated.
Is pumpkin seed oil good for hair loss?
How much pumpkin seed oil should I take for hair growth?
The trial used 400 mg a day, split into two doses before meals1.
How long does pumpkin seed oil take to regrow hair?
The trial measured results after 24 weeks1, so give it about 6 months.
Can I put pumpkin seed oil on my scalp?
You can, but we didn’t find trials showing it works topically in men. The positive men’s trial used capsules1.
Does pumpkin seed oil work for women’s hair loss?
In a small trial, women improved on both pumpkin seed oil and minoxidil foam, but there was no placebo group3.
Is pumpkin seed oil better than minoxidil or finasteride?
There’s no evidence it is. It hasn’t been compared with them in men, and they’re the standard treatments4.
Sources & History
References
- Effect of Pumpkin Seed Oil on Hair Growth in Men With Androgenetic Alopecia: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial — Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2014
- Comment on “Effect of Pumpkin Seed Oil on Hair Growth in Men With Androgenetic Alopecia” — Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015
- Pumpkin Seed Oil vs. Minoxidil 5% Topical Foam for the Treatment of Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Randomized Comparative Trial — Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
- Effects of Dietary Supplements on Androgenetic Alopecia: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis — Frontiers in Nutrition, 2026
- Comparative Effectiveness of Finasteride vs Serenoa repens in Male Androgenetic Alopecia: A Two-Year Study — International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology, 2012
- Food Allergy to Pumpkin Seed — Allergologia et Immunopathologia, 2010
Update history
- Rewritten with a study table, the trial’s capsule product, funding and dosing schedule from the full paper, the women’s minoxidil trial and a 2026 network meta-analysis; removed unsourced finasteride hair-count figures.
