It is one of the trendiest natural remedies of the moment and has shown real effectiveness in weight loss in a new study.
Impressive results. In addition to losing weight, the remedy tested by researchers from the Department of Biology at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik in Lebanon reduced metabolic risk factors such as cholesteroltriglycerides and blood sugar volunteers who were all overweight or obese. Until now the remedy had not been tested on people suffering from weight problems.
Without doing sports
For their study published in March 2024 in the BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, scientists followed 120 Lebanese adolescents and young adults aged 12 to 25 (46 men and 74 women) whoseBMI was between 27 and 34 kg/m². The participants kept their usual diet (i.e. more than 4 meals per day for most) throughout the study. They were non-drinkers and non-smokers. Most of them had no family history of obesity and did not exercise regularly. These participants were randomly assigned to four groups : the first group had to drink 5ml of apple cider vinegar (1 teaspoon) every day for 12 weeks (3 months), the second group had to drink it 10ml every day and the third group 15ml per day. The fourth group was a control group that received a placebo.
On an empty stomach in the morning in a little water
For each group, apple cider vinegar contained 5% acetic acid and was taken on an empty stomach in the morning diluted in 250 ml of water. Fasting blood glucose, triglyceride and cholesterol measurements were taken at weeks 0, 4, 8 and 12. Weight, BMI and waist/hip ratio were measured. Results :
► Group 1 (5 ml of vinegar per day) lost 900 grams in 4 weeks1.7 kg in 8 weeks and 5.1 kg in 12 weeks (BMI: -1.8)
► Group 2 (10 ml of vinegar per day) lost 900 grams in 4 weeks, 1.8 kg in 8 weeks and 7.4 kg in 12 weeks (BMI: -2.9)
► Group 3 (15 ml of vinegar per day) lost 3.2 kg in 4 weeks, 4.6 kg in 8 weeks and 7kg in 12 weeks (BMI: -3)
► Group 4 (placebo) lost 0.3 kg in 12 weeks (BMI: -0.1)
Fat percentage decreased significantly
The reduction in body weight and BMI therefore seemed to depend dose and taking time: the group receiving 15 ml of apple cider vinegar (3 teaspoons) presenting the most significant weight loss after 12 weeks. Waist and hip circumferences, as well as body fat percentage, decreased by meaningful way in the three groups who took apple cider vinegar at weeks 8 and 12 compared to week 0. Finally, these data suggest that continued consumption of 15 ml of apple cider vinegar for more than 8 weeks is effective in reducing fasting blood sugar, triglycerides, and total cholesterol levels in overweight or obese people.
“It has been suggested that apple cider vinegar, by slowing gastric emptyingcould promote satiety and reduce appetite“, argue the researchers. In this context, “apple cider vinegar could thus be a promising anti-obesity supplement which produces no side effects“, specify the researchers. New studies, of longer duration and with a larger sample, are necessary to confirm this effect.