Apple Cider Vinegar Claims Retracted

DATA UPDATE: The key to vinegar's health-promoting properties lies in its high concentration of acetic acid, and not beneficial properties of the culinary condiment. The “mother” in apple cider vinegar is a unique mix of bacteria, yeast and cellulose that forms during fermentation, but the mother does not perform specific weight loss functions. Moreover, acetic acid’s role as a supplement for slowing digestive processes is marginal when compared to the latest compounded weight loss medications. Dietary vinegar does, however, contain nutrients and antioxidants.

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From recent social media trends to ancient remedies, vinegar has been hailed as a health elixir for centuries. But with so many claims, it can be hard to separate science from hype. Let's explore the real history, benefits, and myths surrounding this popular condiment. Dietary vinegar’s use as health remedy dates back thousands of years to early routine uses by the ancient Babylonians.

If you’ve examined a bottle of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar, you likely saw a cloudy, web-like substance floating inside. This is known as "the mother." It's a natural sediment of beneficial bacteria and yeast that forms during the fermentation process. The presence of the mother indicates that the vinegar is raw and unfiltered, and it does contain some probiotics and enzymes.

While many online claims attribute special powers to the mother, most scientific evidence suggests that ACV's primary health benefits come from acetic acid, its main active ingredient and not the cloudy sediment itself. ACV does contain B-vitamins and plant-based antioxidants called polyphenols that can help to reduce inflammation and enhance the body's ability to fight chronic diseases.

BMJ Group Retracts Previous ACV Study

A clinical trial published in March 2024 in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health made headlines worldwide with bold claims about apple cider vinegar and weight loss. The study suggested that drinking small amounts of ACV daily could support weight loss in overweight and obese individuals, quickly capturing international media attention and going viral on social media. However, serious concerns about the quality of the study quickly emerged and BMJ Group’s integrity team consulted with independent statistical experts to determine if problems existed.

A study suggesting apple cider vinegar helps with weight loss has been retracted by BMJ Group, as of September 2025, after experts uncovered major flaws in its data and methodology. BMJ Group advises journalist and others to stop referencing a study that once suggested drinking small amounts of apple cider vinegar each day could support weight loss in people who are overweight or obese.

Dr. Helen Macdonald - Ethics & Content Editor at BMJ Group

The "mother" in unfiltered apple cider vinegar is simply a natural byproduct of fermentation that may contain additional probiotics and enzymes. However, there's no scientific evidence supporting claims that it provides unique health benefits beyond those of regular apple cider vinegar. However, despite the flawed study's dramatic claims, apple cider vinegar does offer some legitimate health benefits, but they're much more modest than the headlines suggested. While ACV isn't a magical cure, it's not snake oil either. The truth lies somewhere in between.

What the "mother" is and what it’s not...

Certainly with the retraction of BMJ’s original article that suggested the “mother” in apple cider vinegar had special properties that benefited overweight and obese individuals trying to lose weight. In fact, it is much more likely the potential benefits of raw, unfiltered dietary vinegar is about the same as that for other vinegars, since all types contain acetic acid created during fermentation. However, ACV can slow gastric emptying of food from the stomach, which can reduce appetite as well as the daily calorie intake to boost weight loss efforts.

While ACV gets most of the attention, other dietary vinegars like balsamic, red wine, or malt can also be excellent sources of beneficial compounds called polyphenols. As a general rule, the darker the vinegar, the more antioxidants it contains. Nonetheless, a nutrition expert may recommend choosing raw ACV with the mother simply because it is less processed. Keep in mind that the risks associated with consuming ACV are due to its high acidity, which applies whether the mother is present or not.

Health Benefits of Dietary Vinegar

Dietary vinegar has been found in the kitchen for thousands of years. Not only did the Ancients enjoy this flavorful condiment as a culinary component but vinegar has long been valued for its impressive health benefits. The fermented liquid is packed with essential vitamins, nutrients, and bioactive compounds that can support overall health and wellbeing. One of vinegar’s most remarkable qualities from day one is its exceptional longevity. Thanks to its high acidity, it doesn’t spoil or become unsafe to consume. Even if it loses flavor, it can be used to clean.

• Blood Sugar Control: By enhancing insulin sensitivity and increasing glucose intake in muscles, some studies have even shown that type 2 diabetics can consume a small amount of vinegar at bedtime to help lower fasting blood sugar levels the next morning.
• Weight Control: The science behind consuming dietary vinegar to help shed pounds highlights the fermented liquid’s ability to reduce sugary cravings, slow digestive emptying of food from the stomach, fewer hunger hormones, and less overall calorie intake.
• Antioxidant Effects: While research continues, new health benefits continue to emerge. By incorporating quality dietary vinegars into your diet appears offers multiple pathways to better health via the polyphenols (antioxidants) that slow gastric emptying and improve insulin sensitivity.
• Heart Health: Consuming vinegar has been shown to help reduce total cholesterol, "bad" LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, while potentially increasing "good" HDL cholesterol. This is partly due vinegar’s influence on lipid metabolism that inhibits cholesterol synthesis.
• Digestive Health: For many generations, people have turned to dietary vinegar as a natural remedy for medical issues. Today, the science is beginning to validate improvements to digestive health, which is what traditional wisdom has long known about this fermented powerhouse.

Although not a miracle cure, ACV does show promise. Moreover, for most people, apple cider vinegar (with or without the mother) is safe to consume if you guzzle extra water to protect tooth enamel. But thanks to dietary vinegar's high acidity, it also acts as a natural preservative and has an almost indefinite shelf life. If you notice cloudiness or sediment forming over time, the vinegar is still safe to consume, but its flavor might change. If the appearance or taste becomes unappealing, you can always repurpose it like the Ancients for household cleaning.

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When it comes to antioxidants, not all vinegars are created equal. Darker dietary vinegars like balsamic or red wine tend to contain more of these beneficial compounds to enhance the body because they undergo less refinement. In studies where participants lost weight, they were also following a calorie-restricted diet and exercising regularly. Metabolic Research Center has been helping people improve their metabolic health for decades. Take our 2-minute quiz to “Find Your Fit” and you’ll receive an instant download for our FREE Kickstart Guide that includes meal planning, recipes and much more.