A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study conducted in Lebanon found that daily consumption of apple cider vinegar (ACV) for 12 weeks led to significant reductions in body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumferences, and body fat ratio, as well as improvements in blood glucose, triglyceride, and cholesterol levels in overweight and obese adolescents and young adults.
The study, published in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, was the first to investigate the potential anti-obesity effects of ACV in this population. It included 120 participants (46 men and 74 women) aged 12 to 25 years with BMIs between 27 and 34. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three ACV consumption groups (5, 10, or 15 mL daily) or a placebo group for 12 weeks. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were measured at weeks 0, 4, 8, and 12.
Baseline characteristics of the participants included a mean age of 17.8 years (standard deviation [SD] = 5.7) in the placebo group and 17.6 years (SD = 5.4) in the ACV groups. Nearly all participants (98.3%) were nonvegetarian, 89% reported high eating frequency (> 4 meals/day), 87% had no family history of obesity, 98% had no personal history of childhood obesity, and most reported living a sedentary lifestyle and experiencing negative emotions or anxiety. All were nonsmokers and nondrinkers, and 6.7% were following a therapeutic diet.
The ACV used contained 5% acetic acid and was diluted in 250 mL of water for daily consumption in the morning on an empty stomach. Compliance was encouraged through daily reminders.
At the end of the 12-week intervention, the 15-mL ACV group showed mean reductions of 7.0 kg in weight, 2.8 in BMI, 3.4 cm in waist circumference, 2.2 cm in hip circumference, 1.9% in body fat ratio, 11.9 mg/dL in fasting blood glucose, 14.1 mg/dL in triglycerides, and 14.7 mg/dL in total cholesterol compared with baseline.
Reductions in anthropometric parameters appeared to be both dose- and time-dependent, with the greatest effects seen with the highest ACV dose and longest duration of consumption. Reductions in biochemical parameters were also dose- and time-dependent. No significant changes were observed in the placebo group, and no adverse effects were reported during the study.
The study discussed potential mechanisms for the effects of ACV on weight and fat loss—including the ability of acetic acid (the primary component of vinegar) to inhibit lipogenesis and gluconeogenesis and activate fat oxidation—based on previous animal studies. While some human studies had shown promising results for ACV in weight management, those studies had limitations such as small sample sizes and short durations, necessitating larger and longer-term studies like the current one.
The study's strengths included its randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design and 12-week duration; limitations included the lack of long-term follow-up and the relatively small sample size.
The authors suggested that future studies could investigate the effects of neutralized acetic acid (to improve palatability and reduce potential dental erosion) and explore the impact of ACV in different age groups, particularly older populations and menopausal women.
The authors declared having no competing interests.
