ID 2365 -
Nasiona dyni
PL: Nasiona dyni
EN: Pumpkin seed (Cucurbita pepo);
Pdf:
1.10. Cucurbita pepo L. (pumpkin) seeds and seed extracts (ID 2029, 2365)
The food that is the subject of the health claims is Cucurbita pepo L. (pumpkin) seeds and seed extracts related to the following claimed effects: maintenance of normal prostate size and normal urination.
The pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) is native to America, but is cultivated worldwide in warm and temperate regions. Pumpkin seeds are small, rather flat and oval-shaped, sometimes white but usually vibrant orange. Hull-less seeds contain 41 to 59 wt% fat, approximately 35 wt% protein, with albumin and globulin being the most prominent proteins, 5 to 7 wt% water, and minor amounts of carbohydrates, fibre and ash (Fruhwirt and Hermetter, 2007). Pumpkin seeds also contain a variety of phytosterols, minerals and carotenoids. Because of the wide variety of pumpkin species, the fatty acid composition of the oil obtained from them can vary significantly. The fatty acid pattern of Cucurbita pepo subsp. pepo var. styriaca, a variety which is used by some manufacturers as a source for pumpkin seed oil or pumpkin seed extracts, has been provided. Various pumpkin seed compounds (phytosterols, fatty acids, minerals and vitamins) have been postulated to have an effect on maintenance of normal prostate size and normal urination in males.
Two human studies were conducted with a specific preparation of pumpkin seeds, which contained 500 mg of a (15-25:1) pumpkin seed extract derived from a 92 % alcohol extraction of seeds from Cucurbita pepo subsp. pepo var. styriaca (Bach, 2000; Friederich et al., 2000). No compositional data were provided for this extract.
No human study was provided which evaluated the effect of pumpkin seeds as such on the claimed effect.
The Panel considers that the food, Cucurbita pepo L. (pumpkin) seeds and seed extracts, which is the subject of the claims, is not sufficiently characterised in relation to the claimed effects considered in this section.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship cannot be established between the consumption of Cucurbita pepo L. (pumpkin) seeds and seed extracts and the claimed effects considered in this section.
Warunki i możliwe ograniczenia stosowania oświadczenia
1500 mg seed, or equivalent amount of extract;(15% of the lower therapeutic dose (10000 mg seed));
