The improvement effect of apple cider vinegar as a functional food on anthropometric indices, blood glucose and lipid profile in diabetic patients: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Sima Jafarirad; Mohammad-Reza Elahi; Anahita Mansoori; Abdollah Khanzadeh; Mohammad-Hossein Haghighizadeh

doi:10.3389/fcdhc.2023.1288786

The improvement effect of apple cider vinegar as a functional food on anthropometric indices, blood glucose and lipid profile in diabetic patients: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Front Clin Diabetes Healthc. 2023 Nov 13:4:1288786. doi: 10.3389/fcdhc.2023.1288786. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Sima Jafarirad^{1

2}, Mohammad-Reza Elahi^{1

2}, Anahita Mansoori^{1

2}, Abdollah Khanzadeh³, Mohammad-Hossein Haghighizadeh⁴

Affiliations

¹ Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases Research Center, Clinical Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
² Department of Nutrition, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
³ School of Medicine, Abadan Faculty of Medical Sciences, Abadan, Iran.
⁴ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Science, Ahvaz, Iran.

Abstract

Background: Numerous medical costs are spent each year on treating and preventing the progression of diabetes. The positive effect of apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been shown on post-prandial hyperglycemia. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of prolonged consumption of ACV on blood glucose indices and lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: This study was a randomized clinical trial and the participants were adults with type 2 diabetes. Participants were divided into two groups: ACV and control. The ACV group was treated with 30 ml of ACV per day. Both the intervention and control groups received the same recommendation for a healthy diet. Before and after eight weeks, fasting blood glucose, insulin, hemoglobin A1C, insulin resistance, total cholesterol (Chol), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglyceride were measured.

Results: Fasting blood glucose decreased after intervention in both groups, which was only significant in the ACV group (p = 0.01). There was a significant difference in hemoglobin A1C levels between the two groups (p < 0.001) after eight weeks. LDL was decreased in the ACV group (p < 0.001). Total Chol, LDL/HDL and Chol/HDL ratio decreased after the intervention period in the ACV group compared to the control group (p = 0.003, p = 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively).

Conclusion: Daily consumption of ACV may have beneficial effects in controlling blood glucose indices and lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Clinical trial registration: http://www.irct.ir, identifier IRCT20140107016123N13.

Keywords: blood glucose; cholesterol; high-density lipoprotein; insulin; low-density lipoprotein; vinegar.