Evidence supporting the use of: Pumpkin
For the health condition: Night Blindness

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 4

Pumpkin is scientifically validated in the context of supporting or treating night blindness, primarily due to its high content of provitamin A carotenoids, especially beta-carotene. Night blindness (nyctalopia) is most commonly caused by a deficiency in vitamin A, a nutrient essential for the synthesis of rhodopsin, a visual pigment needed for low-light vision. Pumpkin flesh is rich in beta-carotene, which the body converts into retinol (active vitamin A). Numerous studies and health organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), recognize beta-carotene-rich foods as key dietary interventions in populations at risk of vitamin A deficiency and, by extension, night blindness. While pumpkin is not typically used as a direct medicinal treatment but rather as part of a preventative or supportive dietary approach, regular consumption of pumpkin and similarly colored vegetables can help prevent vitamin A deficiency and related visual impairment. Historical and traditional medicine systems have also recommended foods rich in carotenoids for eye health, but the modern scientific evidence aligns with these recommendations. Thus, the use of pumpkin for night blindness is primarily supported by scientific evidence about its nutrient composition and the well-established role of vitamin A in vision health.

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