Abstract:
Introduction: Vinegar is a natural product that provides therapeutic benefits, including the regulation of blood glucose levels, enhancement of lipid metabolism, reduction of blood pressure, and assistance in weight management 1,2. Meta-analyses have highlighted the health benefits of vinegar 3-5; however, a comprehensive evaluation of the evidence's strength and quality has yet to be conducted.
Methods: Research studies were sourced from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, encompassing literature up to January 2025. The effect sizes from each meta-analysis were recalculated using a random-effects model. A total of 10 meta-analyses, based on 38 primary studies, were examined to investigate the health effects of vinegar consumption.
Results: The aggregated data suggest that vinegar consumption may lead to improvements in several cardiometabolic markers, including fasting blood glucose (FBG), postprandial glucose (PPG), postprandial insulin (PPI), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), total cholesterol (TC), body weight, and systolic blood pressure (SBP). No significant changes were observed in fasting plasma insulin (FPI), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides (TG), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), or diastolic blood pressure (DBP).
Conclusion: The consumption of vinegar is associated with several health benefits, including improved glycemic control, TC levels, weight management, and SBP, with supporting evidence classified as ranging from very low to moderate and high quality.
Keywords: vinegar, health, meta-analysis.
