Apple cider vinegar is often promoted as a natural aid for fat loss and metabolic health. This new meta-analysis examined whether daily intake improves body composition.
Overview
- What did they test? Researchers analyzed randomized controlled trials to determine whether daily apple cider vinegar intake improves body composition in adults.
- What did they find? Daily apple cider vinegar intake modestly enhances weight loss and leads to small reductions in BMI and waist circumference in short-term studies.
- What does it mean for you? Apple cider vinegar use might help induce small weight changes, but it’s no substitute for consistent training, proper nutrition, and calorie restriction.
What’s the Problem?
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is one of the most talked-about “natural remedies” in nutrition, with claims ranging from improved fat loss and appetite control to better blood sugar regulation. It has a moment every few years on social media and it seems now is that time.
Early clinical trials, such as Kondo et al. (2009), suggested that ACV intake could lead to small reductions in BMI and blood lipids 1. However, subsequent studies have produced inconsistent findings. A recent meta-analysis found no effect on BMI or insulin; however, the authors did observe an improvement in HbA1c and blood lipids in people with diabetes 2 3.
Beyond its use in nutrition research, ACV has a long history as a traditional remedy spanning from ancient Egypt and Greece to modern wellness culture 4. It has been used as a preservative, disinfectant, and digestive tonic for thousands of years, with references dating back to Hippocrates prescribing vinegar mixed with honey for “cleansing.” Today, ACV sits at the intersection of folk medicine and functional nutrition, often touted in social media and supplement marketing as a natural “detox” or metabolic booster.
Purpose
To determine whether daily ACV intake leads to improvements in body weight, BMI, waist circumference, and anthropometric measures.
Hypothesis
The authors did not state a hypothesis. The assumption is that they thought ACV would improve all of the primary outcomes.
