Vinegar May Make Food More Healthy

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Vinegar supplementation lowers glucose and insulin responses and increases satiety after a bread meal in healthy subjects, by E. Östman and colleagues. Eur J Clin Nutr 59:983–988, 2005.

What is the problem and what is known about it so far?

Careful control of a person's diet is important in preventing and treating type 2 diabetes. A way to keep track of how healthy meals are is to use a glycemic index (GI), which measures how quickly carbohydrates are digested and absorbed by the body.

The lower a food's GI, the less likely it is to make blood glucose levels rise after a meal. Lower-GI foods also tend to make one less hungry between meals.

Why did the researchers do this particular study?

Some research suggests that acids (like vinegar) lower the GI of foods. The researchers wanted to see whether vinegar changes the levels of glucose and insulin after meals.

Who was studied?

The study included 12 healthy volunteers: 10 women and 2 men. None were overweight or obese, and all were nonsmokers.

How was the study done?

On different occasions one week apart, and after fasting overnight, participants ate a piece of white wheat bread that had been soaked with 18, 23, and 28 grams of vinegar. For comparison, they ate a piece of bread with no vinegar.

Participants were allowed 12-14 minutes to eat the meal, along with their choice of 300 milliliters (half a cup) of water, tea, or coffee.

Blood was drawn at regular intervals after the meal to measure each participant's level of glucose and insulin, and each answered a survey about their feelings of fullness and hunger.

What did the researchers find?

Blood glucose and insulin levels were lower 30 minutes after eating bread soaked in vinegar. Participants reported being full longer when vinegar was added to their diet.

What were the limitations of the study?

The study was limited to healthy volunteers and may not apply to people with type 2 diabetes or other conditions.

What are the implications of the study?

Adding a little vinegar to the diet may help you feel full longer. It also may help control blood glucose and insulin levels. More research is needed to understand the health effects of vinegar.