Natural Products

Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar

Efficacy

• Indications with proven efficacy:
  None
• Also used for these other indications, but with no proof of efficacy:
  Arthritis
  High cholesterol levels
  Hypertension
  Leg cramps
  Osteoporosis
  Sore throat
  Sinus problems
  To improve digestion
  To prevent baldness (topically)
  To prevent dandruff and itching of the scalp (topically)
  To slow the aging process
  To stimulate thought process
  Toxin eliminate
  Vaginitis (add to bath water)
  Weight loss

Security

• Risk of Drug Interactions: Low
• Adverse Effects: Rare

What is it?

Cider vinegar is obtained by the fermentation of apple juice, as regular vinegar is obtained through the fermentation of wine. It contains small amounts of minerals and vitamins. There are no recognized indications for cider vinegar. It is used as part of folklore medicine. Cider vinegar is marketed as a liquid and in capsules and tablets.

Warning

In 2004, Canada adopted new regulations that control the manufacturing, packaging, labeling and importing of natural health products. The new regulations also include an adverse reaction reporting system. Products that conform to the regulation's criteria are identified with a natural product number (NPN) or homeopathic medicine number (DIN-HM) and can be legally sold in Canada. This number indicates that the product meets specific criteria for safety and purity, not that it is effective for any indication.

Medicinal plants content varies naturally from plant to plant – just as fruits from the same package may vary in taste and texture. There is no standard to measure the active content of each plant. Thus, efficacy of natural products should be expected to vary from brand to brand as well as from bottle to bottle of the same brand.

For more information about the Natural Health Products Regulations, or to check if a product has been assessed, visit the Health Canada website at http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/prodnatur/index-eng.php.

Does it work?

There are no recognized indications for the use of cider vinegar. Nonetheless, it is used to regularize certain medical conditions, even though its actual usefulness remains to be determined.

Is it safe?

• Cider vinegar is not associated with any particular toxicity. There is a single report of toxicity in an individual who took about 250 ml of cider vinegar daily during 6 years. The individual had low blood potassium levels and suffered from osteoporosis. Use of cider vinegar could worsen a gastric ulcer.
• The normal use of cider vinegar in cooking appears to be safe during pregnancy and breast-feeding, but large amounts should be avoided.
• There are no known drug interactions with cider vinegar and it seems unlikely that any would occur.

Clinical notes

• The use of cider vinegar is based on folklore. Because it is not associated with any particular toxicity, many people will be tempted to give it a try.

References

1. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, Therapeutic Research Faculty, 2007
2. Passeportsanté.net. Vinaigre. http://www.passeportsante.net