Saw Palmetto vs Pumpkin Seed for BPH: Trial Results
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Saw palmetto vs pumpkin seed: which helps prostate symptoms?

Cochrane review · GRANU · Small head-to-head

Short answer: Saw palmetto alone gives little or no benefit for urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate, according to a Cochrane review of 27 trials.1 Pumpkin seed has less research: in its largest trial, whole seed did somewhat better than placebo but an extract did not.2 One small 12-month trial in 47 Korean men tested both oils; symptom scores fell with each.3

How do saw palmetto and pumpkin seed compare side by side?

From NCCIH and the human trials cited. Amounts are study protocols, not advice.
Saw palmettoPumpkin seed
Amount of research27 trials with 4,656 men in a 2023 Cochrane review1A few trials; the largest had 1,431 men2
Best-known trialCAMUS: up to 3 times the standard 320 mg a day for 72 weeks did no better than placebo4GRANU: 5 g of seed twice a day, 58.5% responders vs 47.3% on placebo; extract no better than placebo2
Small head-to-head trial320 mg a day of saw palmetto oil: symptom scores fell by 3 months; urine flow better by 12 months3320 mg a day of pumpkin seed oil: symptom scores fell by 3 months; urine flow better by 6 months3
Against a drugNot in the sources checkedLess effective than tamsulosin over 3 months in 73 men5
SafetyWell tolerated for up to 3 years; does not change PSA readings6Well tolerated in GRANU; no side effects reported in the tamsulosin trial25

Reviewed . Half-life figures are shown only where the value Dose Track uses agrees with the cited source.

What do the saw palmetto trials show?

The 2023 Cochrane review, limited to placebo comparisons, found saw palmetto alone made little or no difference to urinary symptoms or quality of life at 3 to 6 months or beyond 12 months, with high-certainty evidence.1 In the NIH-funded CAMUS trial, 369 men took 320 mg a day, raised to 960 mg, or placebo for 72 weeks; symptom scores improved slightly more with placebo.4 NCCIH concludes saw palmetto is probably not helpful for this purpose.6

What do the pumpkin seed trials show?

In GRANU, 1,431 German men aged 50 to 80 took 5 g of pumpkin seed twice a day, 500 mg of pumpkin seed extract twice a day, or placebo for 12 months. The extract did no better than placebo. Whole seed gave more responders (58.5% vs 47.3%), but the authors call this difference descriptive and say a confirming study is needed.2 In 73 Iranian men, 360 mg of pumpkin seed oil twice a day eased symptoms, but less than tamsulosin.5

The only trial with both, in 47 Korean men for 12 months, gave 320 mg a day of pumpkin seed oil, saw palmetto oil, both, or a starch placebo. Symptom scores fell from baseline by 3 months with each oil. The abstract reports changes from baseline, not a direct comparison between the oils or with placebo.3

So which one?

Saw palmetto has been well tested and mostly does not beat placebo. Pumpkin seed has fewer, mixed trials. Urinary symptoms in older men can have other causes, so they are worth checking with a doctor. This is general information, not personal advice. More detail: the Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) and Pumpkin Seed and Seed Oil guides.

This page summarizes labels and published studies. It is not personalized medical advice; confirm any dose or change with your prescriber.
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Frequently asked questions

Does saw palmetto work for BPH?+
A Cochrane review of 27 trials found saw palmetto alone gives little or no benefit for urinary symptoms.1
Does pumpkin seed help an enlarged prostate?+
Whole seed did somewhat better than placebo in one large trial, but an extract did not, and the authors asked for confirmation.2
Does saw palmetto affect PSA tests?+
NCCIH says it does not appear to affect PSA readings, even at higher amounts.6
Can I track these in Dose Track?+
Yes. Log each with reminders, and add notes on symptoms.

Sources

  1. Franco JV, et al. Serenoa repens for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic enlargement. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023;6(6):CD001423.
  2. Vahlensieck W, et al. Effects of pumpkin seed in men with lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia in the one-year, randomized, placebo-controlled GRANU study. Urol Int. 2015;94(3):286-95.
  3. Hong H, Kim CS, Maeng S. Effects of pumpkin seed oil and saw palmetto oil in Korean men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia. Nutr Res Pract. 2009;3(4):323-7.
  4. Barry MJ, et al. Effect of increasing doses of saw palmetto extract on lower urinary tract symptoms: a randomized trial. JAMA. 2011;306(12):1344-51.
  5. Zerafatjou N, et al. Pumpkin seed oil (Cucurbita pepo) versus tamsulosin for benign prostatic hyperplasia symptom relief: a single-blind randomized clinical trial. BMC Urol. 2021;21(1):147.
  6. NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Saw palmetto (updated April 2025).

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