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Researchers found that taking vinegar daily can improve depression symptoms, sciencealert.com reports, suggesting that future treatments could come with a few teaspoons of the stuff.
Not only did the Arizona State University-led team test the effects of regular vinegar consumption, they also analyzed metabolic activity (the chemical process that converts food into energy and other biological materials) to look for reasons why vinegar provides benefits. Study participants who drank liquid vinegar daily experienced a significant 86% increase in their levels of niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3. This nutrient has previously been known to have anti-inflammatory properties. “These data provide further evidence that daily vinegar intake for four weeks improves self-reported depressive symptoms in generally healthy adults and that changes in (vitamin B3) metabolism may contribute to this improvement,” Haley Barrong, a dietitian at Arizona State University, and colleagues wrote in the university’s paper.
The study was done on a total of 28 overweight but healthy adults, who were divided into two groups: one group took two tablespoons of red wine vinegar twice a day, and the other group took a pill with a small amount of vinegar in it every day. During the four-week experiment, the participants were asked to answer questions from two standard mental health surveys: the Center for Epidemiological Studies of Depression (CES-D) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9).
While there were no significant differences between the groups on the CES-D, on the PH9-Q, the high-vinegar group experienced an average 42% reduction in depressive symptoms, while the control group, who took vinegar pills, experienced an average reduction of 18%. Depression varies from person to person There are some limitations to the study: The sample size was small, patients had mild depression to begin with, and in a secondary analysis that adjusted for baseline survey scores, the improvement in PHQ-9 symptoms was not significant. But Barone and his team say the findings warrant a closer look at the relationship. “Depression is the most prevalent mental health condition in the world,” the researchers wrote. “Commonly used antidepressant medications can have serious side effects, and their effectiveness varies widely. Therefore, simple yet effective adjunctive therapies are needed.” Research continues to make progress in better understanding what depression is and all the different factors that may play a role in depression, from sleep quality to body temperature. What’s clear is that depression varies from person to person, and that’s where a wider range of potential treatments could come into play. “Future studies are warranted to examine the effects of vinegar in individuals with or at high risk for clinical depression and those taking antidepressant medications,” the authors wrote. “A focus on mechanisms and a larger patient sample would strengthen the science and provide evidence that more firmly supports a role for vinegar in promoting health.” The study was published in the journal Nutrients.
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