NOW Foods Pumpkin Seed Oil 1000mg 200 Softgels

What it is

NOW Foods Pumpkin Seed Oil 1000 mg is a cold-pressed nutritional oil supplied as 200 softgels, with 1,000 mg of pumpkin seed oil (Cucurbita pepo) in each softgel. The label's serving is two softgels, so the Supplement Facts panel lists 2 g (2,000 mg) of pumpkin seed oil per serving and 100 servings in the bottle. NOW files it on the pack under "Nutritional Oils" rather than under its herb or vitamin ranges, and the front of the bottle names two things the oil carries: essential fatty acids (EFAs) and phytosterols. It is sold as a dietary supplement for adults and sits in our Omega-3 & Nutritional Oils range.

What's inside

One ingredient, one shell. The Supplement Facts panel lists pumpkin seed oil and nothing else, and the "Other ingredients" line names only the softgel capsule itself — bovine gelatin (BSE-free), glycerin and water. There is no filler, no flow agent, no second botanical and no added antioxidant.

Pumpkin seed oil (Cucurbita pepo). Cucurbita pepo is the field-pumpkin species, the same one that gives us carving pumpkins, many summer squashes and the flat green seeds sold as pepitas. The oil is pressed from those seeds. NOW states on the side panel that its oil is "cold pressed without the use of solvents, and derived only from the highest quality non-GMO pumpkin seeds" — cold pressing means the seeds are squeezed mechanically rather than washed with a chemical solvent that then has to be stripped back out.

Three printed sentences that all say the same thing. This is the detail worth slowing down on, because the pack spends three separate lines on it. Alongside "cold pressed without the use of solvents," the label also prints "Natural color variation may occur in this product" and "Naturally occurring dark particulates may be visible in the pumpkin seed oil but do not affect the quality of the product." Those three lines describe one consequence: an oil that has been pressed and not refined still looks like an agricultural product. Batch color shifts with the seed crop, and fine dark specks from the seed stay suspended in it. Bleaching and deodorizing would even that out; NOW instead printed the variation on the label as normal.

The fat lines close exactly. The panel splits the 2 g of fat in a serving three ways — 0.5 g saturated, 1 g polyunsaturated, 0.5 g monounsaturated — and those three figures sum to the 2 g total with nothing left over. No part of the fat block is rounded away into an unlabeled remainder, so the rough shape of the oil reads straight off the table. The 20 Calories in a serving come from that same 2 g.

What the panel does not quantify. Neither the essential fatty acids nor the phytosterols carry a milligram figure anywhere on this pack — they are named on the front of the bottle and in the side-panel description, and that is all. We have not published a number for either, because there is none on the label to transcribe. The NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database holds label records for products in this category if you want to compare panels side by side.

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. † Daily Value not established. Transcribed from the Supplement Facts panel on the bottle.

How to use it

The label's suggested usage is: take 2 softgels 1 to 2 times daily with food. That is the whole of the printed direction — no loading period, no cycling schedule and no time of day specified. At two softgels once or twice a day, a 200-softgel bottle works out to between a 50- and a 100-day supply.

Storage is equally short: store in a cool, dry place after opening. A pressed oil in a gelatin shell keeps better away from heat and sunlight, so a cupboard suits it better than a windowsill.

Who it's for

This is a product for adults 18 and over who already know they want pumpkin seed oil in softgel form. The 200-count bottle is the format to reach for if you take it daily and would rather reorder twice a year than every few weeks. Softgels also suit anyone who wants pumpkin seed oil as a measured daily serving rather than as a culinary oil kept in the kitchen and worked into food by the spoonful.

It is not suitable for vegetarians or vegans, because the capsule shell is bovine gelatin. Before adding any supplement to a routine, it is worth reading the NIH's general guidance on what to know about dietary supplements. You will find the rest of this category in our Supplements department.

Good to know

• Caution, as printed: for adults only. Consult a physician if pregnant or nursing, taking medication, or if you have a medical condition. Keep out of reach of children.
• Allergens: the label states the product is not manufactured with yeast, wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish or sesame ingredients, and that it is produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens.
• Gelatin: bovine gelatin (BSE-free) in the shell. The front of the bottle carries a kosher "K" mark annotated "Contains Gelatin."
• Non-GMO: a Non-GMO badge appears on the front of the bottle.
• Origin: the panel reads "Made and quality tested in the USA with globally sourced ingredients," and gives the maker as NOW Foods, 395 S. Glen Ellyn Rd., Bloomingdale, IL 60108, USA.
• Quality marks: the bottle itself carries a plain "GMP Quality Assured" roundel. The Intertek GMP certification mark appears on NOW's brand information card, not on this bottle.
• No California Prop 65 warning is printed on this packaging.

Because supplements can interact with prescription medicines, the NCCIH's overview of dietary and herbal supplement safety is a sensible read if you take anything regularly. The pack's descriptive lines carry the usual asterisk, which the FDA explains in its guidance on structure/function claims.

Frequently asked questions

How many softgels is one serving, and how much oil does that give me?

One serving is two softgels, and that gives 2 g — 2,000 mg — of pumpkin seed oil. Each individual softgel holds 1,000 mg, which is the figure printed on the front of the bottle. The panel reports per serving rather than per softgel, so the two numbers describe the same product at different scales.

Are these softgels suitable for vegetarians or vegans?

No. The softgel shell is made from bovine gelatin, an animal-derived ingredient, alongside glycerin and water. The oil inside is entirely plant-derived, but the capsule around it is not, and the bottle's kosher mark is annotated "Contains Gelatin" for that reason.

Why does the oil look dark, or why can I see specks in it?

That is expected, and the label says so directly: "Naturally occurring dark particulates may be visible in the pumpkin seed oil but do not affect the quality of the product." The pack also notes that natural color variation may occur. Both follow from cold pressing without solvents — the oil is not bleached or filtered to a uniform appearance.

What is this made without?

The label lists nine ingredients it is not manufactured with: yeast, wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish and sesame. The same line adds that production happens in a GMP facility that also processes other ingredients containing those allergens, so it is a "not made with" statement rather than a statement about the facility as a whole.

How will my order arrive?

Your order ships in plain, unmarked packaging with no indication of the contents on the outside. It will not show the Gear Isle name. You can browse the rest of our Health & Wellness department for related products.

Product information compiled and reviewed by the Gear Isle product team. We transcribe supplement facts directly from manufacturer packaging. Found an error? Tell us.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Dietary supplement for adults 18 and over. Consult a licensed healthcare professional before use, especially if you have a medical condition, heart concerns, or take prescription medication (including nitrates). Keep out of reach of children.