Prospective randomized clinical trial evaluating the impact of vinegar on lipids in non-diabetics

Abstract

Background: Heart disease is now considered an inflammatory process targeted primarily by medical therapy on lipid levels. Complementary and alternative medicine searches for novel non-pharmacologic therapy, including pursuing various diets. Animal studies and consumer literature suggest benefits of vinegar on lipid levels and diabetes mellitus. Our nonrandomized pilot study from our group suggested a benefit in raising high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Based on this data, we conducted a randomized placebo controlled clinical trial to determine the effects of apple cider vinegar intake in those without diabetes mellitus on total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides, HDL-C, Hemoglobin A1C (Hgb-A1C) and measurement of inflammation with high sensitivity CRP levels (HS-CRP). Methods: A prospective randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial consisting of 114 participants was conducted. Participants consumed 30 mL of either apple cider vinegar or placebo for two months. Measurements were collected at baseline, eight and sixteen weeks.

Effect and mechanisms of action of vinegar on glucose metabolism, lipid profile, and body weight

“…The long‐term effects of acetic acid ingestion were examined in a prospective, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical trial conducted in 114 nondiabetic subjects who consumed 30 mL of apple cider vinegar daily for 8 weeks . Although this study supported a downward trend in HbA1c, it was not statistically significant.…”

“…Of these, 21 animal and 24 human studies evaluated the effects of vinegar on glucose and lipid metabolism or body weight. Tables and summarize the clinical studies included, as classified by type, field of investigation, and characteristics of participants.…”

Vinegar Consumption Increases Insulin-Stimulated Glucose Uptake by the Forearm Muscle in Humans with Type 2 Diabetes

“…In these studies 15–30 mL vinegar intake for 8–12 weeks resulted in a decrease of serum triglyceride levels in subjects with obesity [ 23 ] or hyperlipidaemia [ 22 ]. However, there was no effect of vinegar intake in a prospective randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical study conducted in 114 nondiabetic subjects consuming 30 mL apple vinegar for 8 weeks [ 42 ]. The results of this study should however be considered with caution since this study had several limitations; the most important is the mixed group of subjects (one-third of the participants were on statin and/or fish oil treatment).…”

Vinegar as a functional ingredient to improve postprandial glycemic control—human intervention findings and molecular mechanisms

“…Finally, while the acute effects of vinegar consumption in lowering PPG, PPI in healthy subjects is convincing, there had only been a limited number of longer term intervention trials with vinegar and the results of these studies have been rather inconclusive [32][33][34]. In two short-term randomized trials spanning 8 [32] and 12 wk [33] respectively, while supplementation with vinegar did not lower HbA 1c , both studies in fact had baseline HbA 1c well within the normal range and hence these values were not expected to change as a result of vinegar supplementation. Moreover, there were only nonsignificant changes in other parameters such as lowering of fasting glucose and fasting insulin in those longer term studies.…”