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Tribune News Service

Apple cider vinegar has been used for everything from flavouring salad dressings to cleaning toilets, washing windows and unclogging drains.
Long a bit player in the utilitarian, back-of-the-pantry arsenal, apple cider vinegar’s popularity has been rising in recent years. Thanks to social media influencers, this sour-tasting liquid is now touted for its supposed ability to promote weight loss and control diabetes, potentially improving cardiovascular health.
TikTok abounds with apple cider vinegar drink recipes and products, while YouTube videos encourage people to mix it with warm water and sip it before bedtime.
But is there any evidence to back claims of its health-boosting benefits?

There is some, said Lindsey Wohlford, a registered dietitian at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centre, in Houston.
“Many small studies show moderate to little health benefits. But we don’t have a tonne of studies showing significant benefits.”
Apple cider vinegar is an acetic acid that comes from fermenting apples. It is mostly water – nearly 94 per cent – and also contains a tiny bit of iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc, sodium, sugar and potassium.
As far back as 3300BC, apple cider vinegar was considered to have healing powers to disinfect wounds and treat infections or insect bites. More recently, it gained attention during the Covid-19 pandemic as a potential immunity booster. It is also sold in powder, tablet, capsule and gummy form.
Here are the major claims about what apple cider vinegar can do – and what the research says.
1. Claim: It lowers blood glucose
“That’s the claim that is best supported,” Wohlford said.
Several studies have found that consuming apple cider vinegar daily could slightly reduce fasting blood glucose and A1C – a test that measures average blood glucose levels over three months – in people with type 2 diabetes.
A 2021 meta-analysis published in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies found consuming apple cider vinegar reduced fasting blood glucose by about 8mg per decilitre in people with type 2 diabetes whose glucose levels were higher to begin with.
A small study, published in Frontiers in Clinical Diabetes and Healthcare in 2023, showed A1C dropped from 9.21 per cent to 7.79 per cent in people who had 30ml – about 2 tablespoons – of apple cider vinegar daily for eight weeks and were encouraged to follow a healthy diet.
2. Claim: It lowers cholesterol
Likewise, the 2021 meta-analysis also suggested a link between apple cider vinegar consumption and a reduction in total cholesterol, which was most pronounced in people with type 2 diabetes and those who drank up to 15ml per day for more than eight weeks.
The 2023 study found people with type 2 diabetes who had 30ml per day for eight weeks and who were encouraged to follow a healthy diet lowered both “bad” LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol more than people who just received encouragement to follow a healthy diet.
“Overall, most of these studies are not done with very large populations,” Wohlford said. “I wouldn’t say we were sure of any of this.”
3. Claim: It promotes weight loss
Some recent studies have suggested that daily consumption of apple cider vinegar could help people with higher weights reduce their appetite and lose weight.
But Wohlford cautioned that these were small, short-term studies that should not be interpreted to mean apple cider vinegar will solve anybody’s weight problems.
“Apple cider vinegar will not improve weight loss significantly and won’t become a sustainable habit. Most people won’t take it forever and ever,” she said.
“I feel like so often, people are looking for a short cut,” she added. “When it comes to managing weight, what we really want are sustainable behaviours, things that contribute to the overall reduction of chronic disease risk. This is not going to take the place of a healthy diet and regular exercise.”

4. Claim: It promotes gut health
Apple cider vinegar contains natural probiotics because it is a fermented product, Wohlford said. Probiotic-rich foods boost the amount of healthy bacteria found in our gastrointestinal tract and have been linked to immunity, brain health and more.
“It is something helpful to include in your diet when you look to keep your microbiome healthy and good bacteria thriving,” she said.
Can it be harmful?
“Apple cider vinegar is very acidic,” Wohlford said. “It can cause erosion to tooth enamel and damage the oesophagus if you drink it straight.”
Some people also experience an upset stomach or acid reflux, she said. But consuming it as an ingredient in salad dressings or other foods is fine.
How to consume apple cider vinegar
While the health benefits apple cider vinegar provides may be minimal, there is no harm in adding small amounts of it to your diet, Wohlford said.
“If you want to drink it, you really need to dilute it with water or put some in your tea to minimise damage to the oesophagus or tooth enamel,” she said. “But it’s not a great taste.”

The best way to eat it is as part of a meal, Wohlford said.
“Add it to salad dressings, sauces or marinades. Use it to pickle vegetables. That’s a win-win. You get the vegetables and all of the great fibre and nutrients they provide, as well as the apple cider vinegar.”
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4 apple cider vinegar health benefits claims put to the test – what the research says

The best way to have tart-tasting apple cider vinegar is as part of a meal, used in salads, sauces or marinades.
Photo: Shutterstock

Some of apple cider vinegar’s touted health benefits include lowering blood glucose and cholesterol, promoting weight loss, and being good for the gut. Photo: Shutterstock

Apple cider vinegar is an acetic acid that comes from fermenting apples. Photo: Shutterstock 

Lindsey Wohlford is a registered dietitian at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centre. Photo: YouTube

To drink apple cider vinegar, it is best to dilute it with water or put some in your tea. Photo: Shutterstock

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After cutting down on sugar, Neelam Daswani lost weight and enjoyed better skin. Photo: Neelam Daswani

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Singapore-based gastroenterologist Andrea Rajnakova. Photo: Dr Andrea Rajnakova

Rajnakova says poor gut health is linked to a range of serious conditions, which is why maintaining a healthy digestive system is key. When it comes to drinking, she says water is best. Photo: Shutterstock

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TikTok and YouTube are full of videos touting the health benefits of apple cider vinegar but what’s really true? An expert weighs the claims


TikTok and YouTube are full of videos touting the health benefits of apple cider vinegar but what’s really true? An expert weighs the claims.


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Explainer | 4 apple cider vinegar health benefits claims put to the test – what the research says

TikTok and YouTube are full of videos touting the health benefits of apple cider vinegar but what’s really true? An expert weighs the claims