[Jimbee (OP)]

I know some people think some health foods are cures for everything. It's obviously wrong to think that. I have heard they can supplement the other medicines you're taking though. I heard one or two doctors say that. But some are more skeptical.

But specifically vinegar. Some say that it lowers blood sugar and treats high blood pressure. Others say it has antioxidants and other nutrients. Now, it does have some nutrients in, especially if it's made apple cider vinegar or made from wine.

Of course, white vinegar doesn't have too many nutrients in it because it is vinegar distilled from pure alcohol. So obviously if the benefits of vinegar came from nutrients found in the food it was made from, then white vinegar wouldn't give you those benefits. Although people still claim that even white vinegar does things like lower blood sugar treat high blood pressure.

[alancalverd]

My mother used to point out that the staff in "health food" shops always look sick.

[paul cotter]

I would be very sceptical of any health benefits from any vinegar from any source. The same would apply to the vast majority of products sold in health food shops, though a minority have proven but marginal benefit. Vinegar, whether malt, cider derived or distilled does have some calorific value as acetic acid can be utilised by the Krebs cycle.

[Bored chemist]

Some say that it lowers blood sugar and treats high blood pressure.

Who says that?
Have they done a proper trial?

[vhfpmr]

Various sources of vinegar (apple cider vinegar, PV, TV and others vinegar) have been shown to potentially alleviate obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular, cancer and other health complications.

My flecainide acetate smells of vinegar.

[paul cotter]

As does heroin, being 3, 6 diacetyl morphine. I had thought that flecainide had fallen into disuse due to it's propensity to induce arrhythmias rather than control them- i'm not a medic and could well be wrong.  PS: I forgot the most obvious one, aspirin if it gets slightly damp smells strongly of vinegar(acetic acid) as it is acetyl salicylic acid.

[Origin]

The only benefit is that it can be used as a placebo.

[Jimbee (OP)]

Some say that it lowers blood sugar and treats high blood pressure.

Who says that?
Have they done a proper trial?

I don't know about a trial or study. I've heard that information before. And I did a quick Google search to verify what I heard, and what exactly the claims were. Google information searches just give you what is trending. But not always what is accurate of course. And as I said, some people just say that and those are the top health claims made for vinegar.

[alancalverd]

The woman who regularly lectures me on the benefits of cider vinegar, yoga, cold baths, detox retreats, and all the associated "wellbeing" stuff, takes more sick leave than anyone else I know.

 

[evan_au]

As a small molecule, vinegar might be absorbed directly in the gut, to be further processed by the liver.

But is it possible that vinegar is an indirect nutrient?
- It is produced by a narrow set of microbes
- Among the multitude of microbes in your microbiome, are there varieties which can metabolise vinegar, producing other useful products?
- And are there pathogenic bacteria which are kept under control by vinegar?

[paul cotter]

Acetic acid, as acetate is the feedstock on which the Krebs tricarboxylic acid cycle relies. This is the first part of aerobic metabolism and acetate is vital to powering our cells. I doubt it would even reach the liver as it would be scooped up by any and all cells en route. Fluoracetate is a metabolic poison than jams this system and as little as 1gram will kill an adult human by depriving the necessary energy to function.