Study on apple cider vinegar for weight loss retracted after many raise concerns

[Gary C]

Their article appeared in March 2024 in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health. The journal is retracting the paper "because the authors' analyses could not be replicated and multiple errors were identified," according to the retraction notice.

source - https://retractionwatch.com/2025/09/23/apple-cider-vinegar-weight-loss-study-retracted-bmj/

publication - https://nutrition.bmj.com/content/7/1/61

original paper - https://www.researchhub.com/paper/6...domised-double-blind-placebo-controlled-study

 

[Ann K]

Using cider vinegar for weight loss is an "old wives' tale" that I recall from my distant youth, long before it was studied scientifically. But if you google it even today, you'll get a mixed message from people saying "yes, no, and maybe" to the question of its efficacy, and even something on the best time to take it.

I'd be surprised if the retraction of a technical paper has any significant effect on the number of people who use it.

 

[Mendel]

Using cider vinegar for weight loss is an "old wives' tale" that I recall from my distant youth, long before it was studied scientifically. But if you google it even today, you'll get a mixed message from people saying "yes, no, and maybe" to the question of its efficacy, and even something on the best time to take it.

I'd be surprised if the retraction of a technical paper has any significant effect on the number of people who use it.

replace softdrinks with apple vinegar + water, and most people will lose weight, I bet

 

[Ann K]

replace softdrinks with apple vinegar + water, and most people will lose weight, I bet

I imagine it would keep the dentist just as busy.

 

[NorCal Dave]

Using cider vinegar for weight loss is an "old wives' tale" that I recall from my distant youth, long before it was studied scientifically. But if you google it even today, you'll get a mixed message from people saying "yes, no, and maybe" to the question of its efficacy, and even something on the best time to take it.

I'd be surprised if the retraction of a technical paper has any significant effect on the number of people who use it.

Not so much our youth, even recently. Here's a fun podcast about the Bragg family and their Bragg's apple cider vinegar health and wellness empire.

I know in the US, nearly every house had or has a bottle of this stuff, even if just for cooking, but Paul Bragg claimed it could do all kinds of things, including weight loss and so much more. His daughter (or possibly his wife? it's a bit confusing) Patricia took over the business and kept the grift rolling. Then as she grew older, she sold to a group that included Katie Perry, a big believer in the product, only to have it all backfire as the biggest believers became convinced through social media that Perry had changed the product for profit.

It's just vinegar:

Source: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/paul-and-patricia-bragg-the-mother-of-all-wellness-scams/id1616682405?i=1000705849879

 

[obiwanbenobi]

while apple cider may not have benefits for weight loss i do use it as a substitute deoderant by spraying some on my arm pits after a shower and then using some aloe vera gel. it works better than any deoderant (which for me often cause rashes and worse odor) and if you don't mind smelling like vinegar for a bit... what this use does for me though is it means i don't stink for 3-6 days after a shower.

of course we keep some on hand for cooking - German potato salad just isn't right without some in there... same for cole slaw.

 

[Ann K]

of course we keep some on hand for cooking - German potato salad just isn't right without some in there... same for cole slaw.

OT: I made German potato salad last night, and my mother always kept a jar of pickled beets in the fridge. We had them almost every day.

(My brother in law dislikes beets, but my sister loves them. She said when she died she wanted to be buried in the garden, with the beets. Her husband said "When you die, there's not going to BE any beets in the garden!)

 

[Klein]

The gastric valves rely on stomach content acidity to operate. Acidifying the stomach CAN improve digestion and reduce bloat by helping the valves to function correctly in cases of sluggish thyroids/poor diets/other causes of poor digestive function, and that in my opinion is what anecdotally may reduce water retention, generally making people feel healthier/look less fat. I doubt it has any effect on weight loss though. In fact it might promote wealth gain by improving digestion. Even in the less mainstream health circles you'd want to take Betaine HCL in pill form for a reliable effect and avoid getting tooth damage from the acidity.
Still, taking acidic drinks before or during meals would "help" some people by making digestion faster. (Vinegar/Kombucha can have PH 2-3, which is close to stomach acid PH)

 

[Klein]

...

Adding some references to vinegar improving gastric emptying (which occurs through chemoreceptors activating the pyloric valve among other things) and digestion, since i got a warning.
Improves post-prandial glucose in Diabetes
meta-analysis showing Improves post-prandial glucose and glycemic markers
A review showing vinegar's benefits are common knowledge among researchers
In short, it regulates gastric emptying and decreases post-prandial glucose pretty reliably.

BUT, as i said in my post above, bombastic weight loss claims are spurious and made up based on relatively small demonstrated effectiveness.
Like this harvard.edu article mentions, the weight loss effects are small and definitely do not qualify vinegar as a "weight loss" substance in any way. Taking vinegar hoping it will drop dozens of pounds if you're obese is entirely delusional. At best, it improves digestion.
That said, you can't go wrong consuming (diluted) vinegar for health or as part of your diet, as long as you don't go drinking it straight from the bottle hoping it will make you thin.