Vinegar Reduces Postprandial Glycemia and Appetite
Adding a modest amount of ordinary cider vinegar to the diet may helpreduce postprandial glycemia and curb the pangs of hunger for the rest of theday, according to a small study presented at the 46th annual meeting of theAmerican College of Nutrition, held September 22–25 in Kiawah Island,S.C.
Investigators in the department of nutrition at Arizona State Universitytested a simple vinegar drink—20 g of apple cider vinegar, 49 g ofwater, and 1 teaspoon of saccharine—on 10 healthy, nondiabeticvolunteers.
For comparison purposes, on different days subjects were assessed afterconsuming a placebo drink consisting of 60 g of water and 1 teaspoon ofsaccharine, or a calcium acetate drink. On each occasion, the drink wasconsumed after subjects had eaten a breakfast of bagel and orange juice on anempty stomach.
Blood samples were drawn at 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after themeal.
Carol S. Johnson, RD, and colleagues report that after subjects consumedthe vinegar drink, their 60-minute glucose excursions were 35% lower thanafter placebo. On average, energy consumption was reduced by >300 caloriesfor the rest of the day, according to the group. No difference was notedfollowing the calcium acetate drink.
Similar beneficial effects of vinegar were seen by a group of researchersat Lund University inSweden.1Investigators tested the effect of dietary vinegar on levels of glucose andinsulin after meals. On different occasions a week apart, after fastingovernight, 12 healthy volunteers ate a standardized piece of white wheat breadthat had been saturated with 18, 23, and 28 g of vinegar. The largest amountof vinegar translates to about 30 ml, or about one liquid ounce. Forcomparison, they also ate a piece of bread with no vinegar.
Participants were allowed 12–14 minutes to eat the meal, along withtheir choice of 300 ml water, tea, or coffee. Analysis revealed that bloodglucose and insulin levels were lower 30 minutes after eating the bread whenit had been soaked in vinegar. Participants also reported feeling full longerwhen vinegar was added to the diet. ▪
