Apple Cider Vinegar & Blood sugar levels

Many a claim has been made and continues to be made about the health benefits of taking ACV. To be honest there is not much science out there to back these claims. For the next couple of weeks we will be posting some educational information which does have some science to these claims.

What we DO KNOW is that Apple Cider Vinegar has been used for centuries and continues to be used to help cure many different ailments. Hence why we here at Goulter’s believe in our authentic Organic Apple Cider Vinegar.

We hope you find the following extract informative:

Blood Sugar
This is a claim that has been investigated. Studies in rodents have found that both vinegar [2] and Apple Cider Vinegar [3] have positive effects on blood glucose control.

In humans, consumption of Vinegar prior to a Carbohydrate containing meal has been shown to reduce blood glucose response by approximately 20-30 percent [4, 5].

However, it should be noted that total area under the curve for blood glucose 2hrs after a meal was not different between a group that consumed Vinegar and one that did not [6]. What this means is that while Vinegar consumption reduces the initial increase in blood glucose, it does not prevent glucose absorption and instead delays it.

Indeed, Vinegar consumption has not been shown to interfere with carbohydrate absorption [7].
Instead, consumption of Apple Cider Vinegar [8] or regular vinegar (most often made from rice) [9] has been shown to reduce gastric emptying rate.

Although Vinegar has been shown to reduce the initial Glycemic response to a meal, it should be noted that the significance of the Glycemic index and Glycemic response of a meal to overall health in non-diabetic individuals has been debated [10].

In insulin resistant individuals, increases in Insulin sensitivity have also been observed following consumption of Vinegar with a high Carbohydrate meal [11]. In addition, a small, short-term intervention in type 2 diabetics observed a small reduction in fasting blood glucose when Apple Cider Vinegar was consumed prior to bed [12]. Similarly, a small study in diabetics observed a slight decrease in Hemoglobin A1C levels after consumption of 2 tablespoons Vinegar twice daily for 12 weeks [13].

However, it should be noted that this effect was not observed in a larger controlled trial in non-diabetics [14].
Although more research is needed on this topic, it does appear that consumption of vinegar with high carbohydrate meals may help to blunt the Glycemic response and also may help blood glucose
control diabetics.