Therapeutic and Preventive Roles of Pumpkin Seeds in Lifestyle Disorders

Abstract

Pumpkin seeds are nutrient-dense kernels that provide unsaturated fatty acids, high-quality protein, dietary fiber, and important micronutrients such as magnesium, zinc, iron, manganese, and copper, together with phytosterols and tocopherols that contribute to their functional food value. This review synthesizes evidence on pumpkin seed–based preparations (whole seeds, seed-derived fractions, and pumpkin seed oil) in relation to cardiometabolic outcomes relevant to lifestyle-associated noncommunicable diseases, with emphasis on glycaemic control, blood pressure regulation, and lipid modulation. Available human studies, although limited in number and scale, indicate measurable improvements in vascular indices and blood pressure parameters in postmenopausal populations receiving pumpkin seed oil, and suggest favorable shifts in lipid profiles, particularly HDL-cholesterol. Acute dietary evidence also supports that inclusion of pumpkin seeds in mixed meals may reduce postprandial glycaemic excursions. Mechanistically, these effects are plausibly linked to modulation of insulin-related pathways (including D-chiro-inositol–associated signaling), cholesterol-related actions attributed to phytosterols, and antioxidant/anti-inflammatory influences on endothelial and metabolic homeostasis. However, substantial heterogeneity in cultivar, processing, extraction method, formulation, and dosing—together with the predominance of preclinical evidence for several claimed indications—limits the strength of clinical recommendations. Therefore, well-powered randomized clinical trials using standardized, chemically characterized preparations and clinically meaningful endpoints, alongside mechanistic investigations clarifying molecular targets, bioavailability, and dose–response relationships, are essential before pumpkin seeds or their oils can be advocated as a therapeutic adjunct for lifestyle disorders.