Daily Vinegar Ingestion and 24-Hour Blood Glucose Control

Daily Vinegar Ingestion and 24-Hour Blood Glucose Control in Adults With Glucose Intolerance: A Randomized Crossover Trial

When linking dietary interventions and blood glucose management, much of the existing research - particularly studies exploring the effects of vinegar - has relied on discrete readings from the conventional testing methods: blood samples or glucometers. These methods lack the capacity to provide insights into blood glucose dynamics 24/7.

Recognizing this gap, the current study aims to utilize continuous glucose monitoring to examine the impact of daily vinegar ingestion on glucose variability in adults identified as glucose intolerant.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Glucose Intolerance
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Liquid vinegar; Dietary supplement: vinegar pill

Detailed Description

Participants are randomly assigned to either Group A or Group B using the Microsoft Excel randomization function. Group A will be instructed to consume 4 tablespoons of red wine vinegar (2 tablespoons diluted in water at the start of the lunch and the dinner meals) for the first 4 days of the trial. Conversely, participants in Group B will ingest the placebo for the initial 4 days, ingesting one pill daily upon waking in the morning. On days 5-9, participants will switch to the opposite treatment. The red wine vinegar dosage (4 tablespoons containing 3.5 g acetic acid - this is the amount of acetic acid in a large 4-inch dill pickle), and the placebo vinegar pill dosage (one pill containing 0.022 g acetic acid) will be taken daily during the trial. On visit 1, anthropometric measurements, including height, weight, and body composition (lean fat mass and body fat mass), will be measured, and the continuous glucose monitor will be placed on the upper arm. The participants will be instructed to fast >8 hours (no food or beverages with the exception of water) ahead of visit 1. To ensure accurate use and data collection, researchers discussed the operation of CGM devices and that these waterproof devices are to be continuously worn during the entire 9-day trial and will be removed on day 9 (visit 2).

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 10
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Arizona
    • Phoenix, Arizona, United States, 85004
      • 850 PBC

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• glucose intolerance (defined as one of the following: fasting glucose >99 mg/dl; diagnosis of prediabetes or diabetes; history of gestational diabetes)
• 18 years of age or older
• sedentary or moderately active (defined as a score ≤ 24 on the Godin-Shepard Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire)

Exclusion Criteria:

• currently adhering to a non-typical diet that would impact carbohydrate intake (including weight loss diets)
• medication/drug use that has not been consistent for the previous 3 months or will be discontinued during the trial
• any acute illness
• regular smokers, pregnant or lactating women, or individuals taking insulin
• Unwilling to tolerate vinegar ingestion

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Liquid vinegar; Liquid vinegar (6% acidity) consumed at a dosage of 2 tablespoons (diluted in water and consumed at mealtime) twice daily (4 tablespoons total per day).	Dietary supplement: Liquid vinegar; 3.5 g acetic acid
Placebo Comparator: Vinegar pill; One pill consumed daily in the morning.	Dietary supplement: vinegar pill; 0.022 g acetic acid

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Average glucose	The average blood glucose concentration for each 4-day period	Four days
Glucose: time in range	The average time over 4 days that blood glucose falls in the reference range	Four days

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Arizona State University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 26, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 15, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): July 15, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 13, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 13, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): March 20, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 17, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 14, 2025
• Last Verified: August 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: continuous glucose monitoring; glucose; vinegar
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Metabolic Diseases; Glucose Metabolism Disorders; Hyperglycemia; Glucose Intolerance; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents; Acetic Acid
• Other Study ID Numbers: STUDY00019235

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No