Pumpkin Seed Oil as a Nutraceutical for Hemodialysis Patients

Chronic systemic inflammation is a cornerstone of hemodialysis pathophysiology, driven by uremic toxin retention, oxidative stress, endotoxemia, and repeated exposure to bioincompatible dialysis membranes, which activate NF-κB and STAT signaling and sustain elevated IL-6 and CRP. These biomarkers are independent predictors of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality, and contribute to the malnutrition-inflammation complex syndrome (MICS) that affects a substantial proportion of dialysis patients. sVCAM-1 acts as a mechanistic bridge between the uremic milieu and accelerated atherosclerosis, mediating monocyte adhesion to the arterial intima and serving as an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality in this population.

No pharmacological agent is currently routinely or universally prescribed to specifically target inflammation in hemodialysis patients; existing options (e.g., anti-IL-6 agents, statins, pentoxifylline, nutraceuticals such as curcumin, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin E) show variable biomarker reductions but have not been widely incorporated into standard practice. Pumpkin seed oil has shown anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in animal and in vitro studies, including suppression of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and COX-2, with effects in some models comparable to NSAIDs. Vitamin E, a major constituent of pumpkin seed oil, has separately been shown to reduce circulating sVCAM-1 in hemodialysis patients via suppression of oxidative stress. However, to the investigators' knowledge, no prior human study has directly examined the impact of pumpkin seed oil on IL-6 and CRP in hemodialysis patients, and no study has investigated its effect on sVCAM-1 specifically in this population.

This study addresses that gap by evaluating the effect of 1000 mg/day oral pumpkin seed oil for 3 months, in addition to usual hemodialysis care, on inflammatory (IL-6, hsCRP, sVCAM-1), oxidative stress (MDA, SOD), and lipid biomarkers, compared with a usual-care control group, in patients with ESRD on maintenance hemodialysis at the Hemodialysis Center, Al-Karama Teaching Hospital, Iraq.

Inclusion criteria

• End-stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis for more than 6 months, on a constant dialysis program.
• Hemodynamically stable (no recent hospitalization for infections, cardiovascular events, or major surgery within the past 3 months).
• No active acute infections.
• Serum albumin ≥ 3.0 g/dL.

Exclusion criteria

• Regular intake of dietary supplements (e.g., omega-3, antioxidants) for at least one month prior to enrollment.
• Autoimmune disease, liver disease, cancer, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
• Known sensitivity/allergy to pumpkin seed oil.
• Current use of lipid-lowering agents.
• Diabetes mellitus.
• Current use of anticoagulants (warfarin, direct oral anticoagulants).
• Current use of immunosuppressants, corticosteroids, or anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women.
• Residual kidney function (urine output > 200 mL/day).