Effect of apple cider vinegar on postprandial lipaemia in healthy adults

ABSTRACT

Postprandial lipaemia refers to the acute period of dietary lipid absorption, transport and distiribution, which has been associated with the process of atherosclerosis. There is some evidence that apple cider vinegar and acetic acid could reduce serum lipids in rat and mice, but the effect of vinegar on blood lipids in humans has not been investigated. This study, using a randomized crossover design, was carried out to investigate the effect of apple cider vinegar on postprandial plasma lipids in sixteen healthy adults. On two separate occasions, subjects randomly consumed the fat-rich meal containing 0. 5 g fat/Kg body weight, with 15cc diluted apple cider vinegar or water [as control], each time 3 venous blood samples, fasting, 4 and 8 hours after test meal ingestion were taken. Samples were analyzed for plasma triglyceride, cholesterol and HDL-C concentrations and LDL-C was calculated. Area under the curve [AUC] of TG was calculated using the trapezoid rule. Statistical analysis was carried out using repeated measures ANOVA and paired t-test [SPSS version 11]. The concentrations of TG was significantly [p<0. 05] increased after both meals but there was no difference between meals for postprandial responses and TG AUC after both meals were similar [820. 75 +/- 326. 66 mg/dl. 8h versus 850. 88 +/- 385. 66 mg/dl. 8h]. Also, vinegar had no effect on the postprandial responses of TC, LDL-C and HDL-C. The present study showed that consumption of a single dose of apple cider vinegar with a fatty meal had no effect on the postprandial lipid response in healthy adults. However, to investigate the chronic effects of vinegar on blood lipids of human subjects, further work is recommended