Pumpkin seed oil has been traditionally used and scientifically investigated for its potential benefits in supporting prostate health, including conditions such as prostatitis. The primary active components—phytosterols, essential fatty acids, and antioxidant compounds—are believed to exert anti-inflammatory effects and modulate hormonal activity, both of which may be relevant in prostatitis management.

Several small-scale clinical studies and animal experiments suggest that pumpkin seed oil may help alleviate lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which can overlap with prostatitis symptoms. For example, a few randomized controlled trials have observed modest improvements in urinary symptoms and flow measures in men using pumpkin seed oil extracts. However, direct clinical evidence specifically addressing its efficacy for prostatitis (as opposed to general prostate health or BPH) remains limited and of low methodological quality.

Mechanistically, pumpkin seed oil’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, along with possible inhibition of 5-alpha-reductase (an enzyme involved in prostate enlargement), offer plausible pathways by which it might benefit men with prostatitis. Nevertheless, most human studies focus on symptom relief rather than direct anti-inflammatory effects in the prostate, and sample sizes are generally small.

In summary, while there is some scientific rationale and preliminary evidence supporting the use of pumpkin seed oil for prostate-related symptoms—including those that may accompany prostatitis—the overall quality and quantity of evidence is limited, justifying a modest evidence score.