Beneficial effects of pumpkin seed soft extract on lower urinary tract symptoms and quality of life in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia: a meta-analysis of two randomized, placebo-controlled trials over 12 months

Vahlensieck W, Heim S, Patz B, Sahin K · Clinical Phytoscience · 2022 April 13

Objective

To investigate the safety and efficacy of a proprietary pumpkin seed soft extract (PSE) in treating patients with mild-to-moderate lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostate hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH), based on two randomized placebo-controlled 12-month studies (Bach and GRANU study).

Conclusions

The meta-analysis, incorporating patient-level data from the Bach and GRANU studies, suggests that, despite contradictory results in individual trials, PSE demonstrates an advantage over placebo, with a higher percentage of patients in the PSE group showing an International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) improvement of at least 5 points after 12 months. This implies potential symptomatic relief for patients with moderate LUTS/BPH through PSE treatment.

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Insights

Pumpkin seed extract treatment could potentially offer symptomatic relief for patients experiencing moderate lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostate hyperplasia.

The study methodology involved a meta-analysis of two separate studies that were randomized and placebo-controlled, focusing on the effectiveness of pumpkin seed extract in addressing urinary tract symptoms indicative of benign prostate hyperplasia. The participants included in these studies were those patients whose International Prostate Symptom Score was 13 points or higher at the baseline. The method of analysis involved assessing the response rates of patients and the improvement in prostate symptom scores at a 12-month follow-up. The discussion of results revealed that the response rates in the group receiving pumpkin seed extract were marginally higher than that of the placebo group, giving pumpkin seed extract a slight edge. Additionally, there was a minor difference observed in the change from the baseline to 12-month Prostate Symptom Score in favour of pumpkin seed extract. The meta-analysis in general indicates that a treatment involving pumpkin seed extract may result in symptomatic relief for patients suffering from moderate urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostate hyperplasia.