Apple cider vinegar results in weight loss, randomized study suggests
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Key takeaways:
- Those who were assigned 5 mL, 10 mL or 15 mL of the cider daily had decreased weight and BMI at 4, 8 and 12 weeks.
- The vinegar could be used as part of lifestyle interventions for patients, a researcher suggested.
Apple cider vinegar might be an effective dietary intervention in the management of obesity, results from a randomized clinical study showed.
The effect may be due to the primary component of apple cider vinegar (ACV) — acetic acid — which has been shown in a limited number of studies to reduce fat and improve metabolism, but the exact mechanism requires further study, researchers said.
Rony Abou-Khalil, PhD, an associate professor of biochemistry at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, in Lebanon, told Healio there were a couple of reasons that led his research team to investigate the anti-obesity effectiveness of ACV.
“First, there was growing interest and anecdotal evidence surrounding the potential health benefits of ACV. However, there was a lack of comprehensive scientific studies to substantiate these claims,” he noted. “Secondly, given the prevalence of conditions such as obesity and overweight, high blood glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, there was a need to explore alternative and potentially effective interventions beyond traditional medications.”
In the study, the researchers assigned 120 Lebanese participants (mean age, 17 years) with overweight or obesity to intervention groups receiving either 5 mL, 10 mL or 15 mL of ACV daily or to a control group over a 12-week period.
Several measurements — including BMI, body weight, hip-to-waist circumference, blood glucose levels and total cholesterol levels — were assessed at 4, 8 and 12 weeks.
The researchers found that all doses of ACV all resulted in significant decreases in body weight and BMI at 4, 8 and 12 weeks compared with baseline (P < .05), whereas waist-to-hip circumference and body fat ratio decreased at 8 and 12 weeks (P < .05).
Dose- and time-dependent effects were also identified: the group that received 15 mL of ACV had the largest reduction, whereas the most significant changes occurred at 12 weeks.
Abou-Khalil and colleagues noted that blood glucose levels decreased at 4, 8 and 12 weeks across the three intervention groups (P < .05), whereas triglycerides and total cholesterol levels were reduced at 8 and 12 weeks vs. baseline (P < .05).
“What stood out particularly was the consistency of these improvements across the study population, indicating a robust effect of ACV on metabolic health parameters,” he said. “I am quite impressed with the results observed during the study.”
Abou-Khalil pointed out that the findings have several clinical implications.
“They provide evidence supporting the inclusion of ACV as a complementary or adjunct therapy for patients with conditions like obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, or elevated triglycerides,” he said.
Abou-Khalil added that physicians could recommend ACV “as part of lifestyle modifications for patients aiming to improve their metabolic health, alongside dietary changes and exercise.”
“However, it's essential for physicians to counsel patients on proper dosage, potential side effects, and the importance of regular monitoring, especially for those on medication,” he said. “More rigorous randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of ACV across diverse populations, different age range, and over longer durations.”
Editor’s note: This story was updated with the specific amounts of apple cider vinegar that participants took over a 12-week period.
Perspective
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ACV is effective in achieving weight loss and reducing visceral fat over 12 weeks compared with placebo, without significant adverse effects. Most importantly, ACV showed a reduction in visceral obesity, which correlates with a significant reduction in comorbidity and mortality. It’s a natural product that works. In addition, ACV improves lipid profiles and blood glucose levels, which may decrease cardiovascular risk. Given the uncertainties of long-term GLP-1 medication effects, ACV presents a viable alternative. However, further long-term research is required to assess its sustained efficacy. I believe this is a well-constructed study. We still need a long-term study on ACV to determine if there is sustainable efficacy.
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