Written by Harold Oster, MD. Results suggest that apple cider vinegar supplementation leads to weight loss and improvement of glucose and lipid levels in overweight and obese adolescents and young adults.
The prevalence of obesity has increased in the United States and much of the world. Obesity is associated with increased mortality and multiple medical conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer1. Apple cider vinegar (ACV) contains acetic acid, vitamins, phenols, and other compounds with potential health benefits. Studies have suggested that supplementation with apple cider vinegar may reduce body weight and improve glucose control in diabetics2.
Rony Abou-Khalil et al. studied the effects of apple cider vinegar supplementation on weight, blood glucose, and lipids in overweight and obese adolescents and young adults. The authors recruited individuals between 12 and 25 years old with a body mass index between 27 and 34. The participants were randomly assigned to three treatment groups and a placebo group. The treatment groups consumed 5 mL, 10 mL, or 15 mL of 5% ACV diluted in 250 mL of water daily for twelve weeks. The placebo group drank a mixture of lactic acid and water daily for twelve weeks. Demographics, clinical history, diet, and physical activity were assessed with questionnaires. At baseline and every four weeks, the participants were evaluated for weight, height, waist and hip circumference, and body fat percentage by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)3. Blood was tested at baseline and four-week intervals for fasting blood glucose, triglyceride, and total cholesterol levels.
The authors noted the following:
- Based on inclusion criteria, 46 males and 74 females completed the study.
- No significant differences were noted in the four groups at baseline.
- Body weight and body mass index decreased at 4, 8, and 12 weeks in the ACV groups but not in the placebo group.
- In the three treatment groups, the total amount of weight loss increased at each time interval.
- The group receiving 15 mL of ACV lost more weight than the other groups, an average of 7.0 kg (15.4 lbs) at 12 weeks.
- Waist and hip circumferences and body fat percentage decreased in all three treatment groups but not in the placebo group.
- Fasting blood glucose, triglyceride, and total cholesterol levels improved in the three treatment groups but not in the placebo group. The improvement was dose- and time-dependent, with the largest decrease in the 15 mL ACV group at 12 weeks. (11.9 mg/dL decrease in glucose, 14.1 mg/dL decrease in triglycerides, and 14.7 mg/dL decrease in total cholesterol)
- No significant adverse reactions to apple cider vinegar were noted.
Results suggest that apple cider vinegar supplementation leads to weight loss and decreased fasting glucose and lipid levels in overweight adolescents and young adults. The study’s limitations include its short duration and its focus on individuals solely from Lebanon.
Source: Abou-Khalil, Rony, Jeanne Andary, and Elissar El-Hayek. “Apple cider vinegar for weight management in Lebanese adolescents and young adults with overweight and obesity: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.” BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health (2024): e000823.
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.
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Posted April 10, 2024.
Harold Oster, MD graduated from medical school in Miami, Florida in 1992 and moved to Minnesota in 2004. After more than 25 years of practicing Internal Medicine, he recently retired. Dr. Oster is especially interested in nutrition, weight management, and disease prevention. Visit his website at haroldoster.com.
References:
- Lin X, Li H. Obesity: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, and Therapeutics. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2021;12:706978. doi:10.3389/fendo.2021.706978
- Jafarirad S, Elahi MR, Mansoori A, Khanzadeh A, Haghighizadeh MH. The improvement effect of apple cider vinegar as a functional food on anthropometric indices, blood glucose and lipid profile in diabetic patients: a randomized controlled clinical trial. Front Clin Diabetes Healthc. 2023;4:1288786. doi:10.3389/fcdhc.2023.1288786
- Pichard C, Kyle UG, Bracco D, Slosman DO, Morabia A, Schutz Y. Reference values of fat-free and fat masses by bioelectrical impedance analysis in 3393 healthy subjects. Nutrition. Apr 2000;16(4):245-54. doi:10.1016/s0899-9007(00)00256-2
