Could consuming vinegar every day ease depression?
A study investigating daily vinegar consumption in overweight but healthy adults has demonstrated that 4 weeks of vinegar intake led to notable improvements in self-reported depression scores.
A shot of vinegar a day keeps depression away? According to a recent study published in Nutrients, some researchers certainly seem to think so.
Depression, the most common mental disorder globally, has seen a surge in prevalence in recent years. Antidepressant medications or psychotherapy are commonly prescribed for depression, but medications in particular can have serious side effects for patients. This has prompted a search for alternative remedies, including dietary supplements like vinegar; a fermented combination of acetic acid and water known for its benefits in blood glucose regulation, weight management and heart disease risk.
The study involved 45 healthy participants, aged 18–45 with a BMI of 25–40, from a university community. They were randomly allocated into an intervention group; drinking four tablespoons of diluted vinegar daily (2.95g of acetic acid) for 4 weeks, or a control group; taking one vinegar pill daily (0.025g of acetic acid) for 4 weeks. Their progress was monitored by researchers through blood samples, dietary recalls, health history questionnaires, height, weight and circumference measurements, and depression assessments.
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At the beginning of the study, there were no significant differences in depression scores between the two groups. However, based on the 28 participants that completed the study, by week four results demonstrated a 42% reduction in depression scores among those consuming liquid vinegar, compared to an 18% reduction in the control group. Analysis of blood samples using GC–MS enabled the researchers to identify and quantify metabolic changes and revealed significant alterations in two metabolites during the trial for the intervention vinegar group: an 86% increase in levels of nicotinamide (vitamin B3) and a 35% decrease in L-isoleucine levels, as well as a 3% decrease in isobutyric acid levels. Nicotinamide and isobutyric acid have both been linked to depressive symptoms so could potentially explain the mood improvement.
While the study highlights vinegar’s potential as a depression aid, particularly emphasizing the importance of nicotinamide levels, its small sample size and short duration call for further research. Larger, longer-term studies focusing on clinically depressed individuals are needed to confirm vinegar’s effectiveness and uncover the underlying biological mechanisms at play.
