Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on maintenance hemodialysis experience chronic systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, and dyslipidemia, which together drive much of the excess cardiovascular morbidity and mortality seen in this population. Pumpkin seed oil is a nutraceutical rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, phytosterols,and tocopherols, with documented antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antihyperlipidemic properties in preclinical and limited clinical studies. This study investigates the potential role of pumpkin seed oil as a nutraceutical on the clinical and biochemical outcomes of hemodialysis patients. It is a randomized, open-label, prospective interventional study in which daily oral supplementation with pumpkin seed oil (1000 mg once daily) for 3 months is evaluated against usual care. Eighty-five participants will be assigned to either an intervention group (n=45, pumpkin seed oil 1000 mg/day plus usual care) or a control group (n=40, usual care only). The biochemical outcomes assessed are changes in serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), lipid profile, malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) from baseline to the end of the 3-month follow-up period. The study is being conducted at the Hemodialysis Center, Al-Karama Teaching Hospital, Iraq
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
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Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
Serum Interleukin-6 (IL-6) level
Timeframe: Baseline and 3 months
Serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) level
Timeframe: Baseline and 3 months
Serum soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) level
Timeframe: Baseline and 3 months
Serum lipid profile (total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides) levels
Timeframe: Baseline and 3 months
Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) level
Timeframe: Baseline and 3 months
Serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity
Timeframe: Baseline and 3 months
mohammed mahmood M mohammed, professor