Evaluating Pumpkin Seed Oil Extract Supplementation on Bladder Function

Launched by NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · Apr 23, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying the effects of pumpkin seed oil extract on bladder function, specifically for women aged 65 to 74 who experience symptoms of overactive bladder (OAB). OAB can cause a strong urge to urinate, frequent trips to the bathroom (more than 8 times a day), and sometimes leakage of urine. The goal of this study is to see if taking pumpkin seed oil can help improve these bladder issues without the use of other treatments for 12 weeks.

To participate, you must be a woman in the specified age range who has been diagnosed with OAB and is willing to try the pumpkin seed oil supplement. You should not have any other conditions that might interfere with the study, such as certain types of urinary infections or surgeries related to bladder issues in the past year. If you join the study, you'll take the supplement and monitor your bladder symptoms over the next three months while not starting any new medications or treatments for your OAB. This trial is currently recruiting participants, and it aims to provide valuable information on a natural approach to managing bladder function.

Gender

FEMALE

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • All patients evaluated at Northwestern's IPHP who report bladder function consistent with overactive bladder (urinary urgency, with or without urinary frequency more than 8 times daily or nocturia, with or without urgency urinary incontinence) at their index visit, who are also willing to use a dietary supplement and not initiate additional behavioral, medication or procedural treatment for 12 weeks following pumpkin seed oil extract initiation.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• * Patients with any of the following will be excluded from the study:
• • Use of other supplements that contain pumpkin seed oil
• • ≥Stage 3 pelvic organ prolapse
• • Urinary post-void residual ≥150cc
• • Culture-proven urinary tract infection at time of study enrollment
• • Recurrent urinary tract infection
• • Neurogenic bladder
• • Abdominal or pelvic malignancy
• • Initiation of new overactive bladder medications or supplements during study period or in the 3 months immediately preceding study enrollment
• • History of surgery in the past 12 months for pelvic organ prolapse, stress urinary incontinence, urgency urinary incontinence, or fecal or flatal incontinence
• • Patient's primary language is not English