Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
I generally don’t give much thought to pumpkins except for judging a student pumpkin carving contest every Halloween. I never even knew that pumpkin seed oil is available as a commercial product. I got onto that track when I received a gift of a bottle of “ Steirisches Kurbis Kernol” from a former student who now heads an immunology research group in Austria. Kurbis kernol means pumpkin seed oil. It seems that this is a hot item over there and is prized not only for drizzling on a salad but also for its reputed health properties. So down the rabbit hole I went.
Like any seed oil, it is a mixture of polyunsaturated, monounsaturated and saturated fats. There is nothing special about pumpkin seed oil in this regard, both olive oil and canola oil are higher in oleic acid, the monounsaturated fat that has been linked with the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet. Pumpkin seed oil has vitamin E, various polyphenols, phytosterols and carotenoids that have been associated with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects but it is unlikely that the amounts found in the amount of oil that would be consumed have any practical significance.
Now onto the health claims. It is well established that substituting unsaturated fats for saturated can reduce blood cholesterol but once again the amount of pumpkin seed oil that may be used on a salad is not enough to have an impact. Some studies suggest that pumpkin seed oil may help with symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or urinary tract symptoms (UTS). For instance, one study (in men with BPH) found that 320 mg per day for 12 months improved urinary flow & symptoms. However, if someone has a real problem in this area, they need proper medication not pumpkin seed oil. There are also claims of hair growth that lack any scientific evidence.
The oil that I got is not any old pumpkin oil. It comes from Styria, a region of Austria where in the late 19th century a spontaneous mutation produced pumpkins with seeds that do not have a hard hull and that makes for easier pressing. This gave birth to a regional industry that claims the oil is particularly tasty and doesn’t mind insinuating that it has health benefits. The little bottle I got is made from seeds that are lightly roasted before being pressed and that imparts a nutty flavour and aroma. This is a result of the Maillard reaction in which the small amounts of sugars and proteins present combine to produce flavourful compounds and dark pigments. I would classify the taste as interesting. I’ll give it a shot on a salad but I don’t think I’ll be any healthier for it.
I generally don’t give much thought to pumpkins except for judging a student pumpkin carving contest every Halloween. I never even knew that pumpkin seed oil is available as a commercial product. I got onto that track when I received a gift of a bottle of “ Steirisches Kurbis Kernol” from a former student who now heads an immunology research group in Austria. Kurbis kernol means pumpkin seed oil. It seems that this is a hot item over there and is prized not only for drizzling on a salad but also for its reputed health properties. So down the rabbit hole I went.
Like any seed oil, it is a mixture of polyunsaturated, monounsaturated and saturated fats. There is nothing special about pumpkin seed oil in this regard, both olive oil and canola oil are higher in oleic acid, the monounsaturated fat that has been linked with the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet. Pumpkin seed oil has vitamin E, various polyphenols, phytosterols and carotenoids that have been associated with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects but it is unlikely that the amounts found in the amount of oil that would be consumed have any practical significance.
Now onto the health claims. It is well established that substituting unsaturated fats for saturated can reduce blood cholesterol but once again the amount of pumpkin seed oil that may be used on a salad is not enough to have an impact. Some studies suggest that pumpkin seed oil may help with symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or urinary tract symptoms (UTS). For instance, one study (in men with BPH) found that 320 mg per day for 12 months improved urinary flow & symptoms. However, if someone has a real problem in this area, they need proper medication not pumpkin seed oil. There are also claims of hair growth that lack any scientific evidence.
The oil that I got is not any old pumpkin oil. It comes from Styria, a region of Austria where in the late 19th century a spontaneous mutation produced pumpkins with seeds that do not have a hard hull and that makes for easier pressing. This gave birth to a regional industry that claims the oil is particularly tasty and doesn’t mind insinuating that it has health benefits. The little bottle I got is made from seeds that are lightly roasted before being pressed and that imparts a nutty flavour and aroma. This is a result of the Maillard reaction in which the small amounts of sugars and proteins present combine to produce flavourful compounds and dark pigments. I would classify the taste as interesting. I’ll give it a shot on a salad but I don’t think I’ll be any healthier for it.
