Apple cider vinegar is a product of crushed apples that have been fermented. Proponents believe that taking apple cider vinegar in liquid or supplement form can effectively treat health problems ranging from acne to fungal infections. Though apple cider vinegar has long been used as a home remedy, only some of its potential benefits have been backed up by scientific research.
Improved Insulin Sensitivity
In a 2004 study published in "Diabetes Care," participants who consumed apple cider vinegar with a test meal of a buttered white bagel and orange juice had a lower 60-minute blood sugar and insulin response to their food than when they consumed the placebo. The benefit was most pronounced in pre-diabetic patients. Thus, consuming apple cider vinegar may be an effective treatment method for people with diabetes and may help prevent diabetes-related problems in those who are susceptible. The participants in the study also consumed fewer calories later in the day, leading researchers to believe that consuming the vinegar increased satiety from the bagel and juice.
Potential Cholesterol Improvements
According to a study published in a 2008 issue of the "Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences," non-diabetic rats fed apple cider vinegar for four weeks had lower LDL cholesterol levels and higher HDL cholesterol levels. Diabetic rats fed the apple cider vinegar had lower blood fat levels and higher HDL levels. The findings are significant because having high levels of LDL cholesterol can increase your risk of heart attacks and strokes and having higher levels of HDL cholesterol can reduce your risk by helping your body get rid of excess LDL cholesterol. Still, more research would be necessary to determine whether consuming apple cider vinegar would benefit humans in a similar fashion.
Weight Loss Theories
According to research published in the 2009 issue of the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry," the acetic acid in vinegar may help prevent weight gain and accumulation of body fat. The study found that lab mice fed a fatty diet with acetic acid gained up to 10 percent less body fat than lab mice that didn't consume the acetic acid with their fatty diet. This may corroborate the belief that acetic acid may "turn on" genes for enzymes that help your body break down fat. However, more research would be necessary to confirm that consuming apple cider vinegar would benefit human subjects in a similar way. Additionally, MayoClinic.com and Health Services at Columbia University maintain that insufficient evidence backs the claim that consuming apple cider vinegar can aid in weight loss.
Potential Risks
Ask your doctor whether she thinks you would benefit from consuming apple cider vinegar as a health supplement. Even if she doesn't think it offers health benefits, she can at least give you advice based on your personal health needs. For instance, she may recommend that you avoid drinking it if you take insulin, diuretics or blood thinners; apple cider vinegar acts as a blood thinner and it can negatively interact with insulin and diuretics. Your doctor can also warn you of other potential risks of consuming apple cider vinegar. Because it is highly acidic, it can cause problems such as tooth enamel erosion and throat irritation, according to MayoClinic.com.
References
- Vinegar Improves Insulin Sensitivity to a High-Carbohydrate Meal in Subjects With Insulin Resistance or Type 2 Diabetes; C. Johnston, Ph.D., et al; January, 2004
- MayoClinic.com: Apple Cider Vinegar for Weight Loss: Effective?; Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.
- Health Services at Columbia University: Apple Cider Vinegar; Aug. 20, 2010
- Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences; Apple Cider Vinegar Attenuates Lipid Profile in Normal and Diabetic Rats; F. Shishehbor, et al; Dec, 2008
- MenGenMed; Vinegar: Medicinal Uses and Antiglycemic Effect; C. Johnston, Ph.D., R.D., et al; 2006
- Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry: Acetic Acid Suppresses Body Fat Accumulation; T. Kondo, et al; 2009
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