Researchers have found that taking vinegar daily may improve symptoms of depression, suggesting that consuming a few spoonfuls of vinegar may one day become a treatment.
A research team led by Arizona State University not only tested the effects of regular consumption of vinegar, Metabolic activity – The chemical processes that convert food into energy and other biological substances – explore the reasons for the benefits found in vinegar.
A massive 86 percent increase Nicotinamide (A type of vitamin B3) was seen in all study participants who consumed liquid vinegar daily. Anti-inflammatory properties.
“The data show that daily consumption of vinegar over a four-week period improved self-reported symptoms of depression in generally healthy adults. [vitamin B3] Metabolism may be involved in this improvement.” write Haley Baron, a nutritionist at Arizona State University, and her colleagues In a published paper.
The study involved 28 overweight but otherwise healthy adults split into two groups: one group consumed two tablespoons of red wine vinegar twice a day, while the other group took a tablet containing a tiny amount of vinegar each day.
During the four-week experimental period, participants were asked to answer two standard mental health survey questions. Center for Epidemiological Studies of Depression (CES-D) questionnaire, and Patient Health Survey (PHQ-9)
No significant differences were found between the groups on the CES-D, but the PH9-Q showed an average 42 percent reduction in depressive symptoms in the high vinegar intake group, compared with an 18 percent reduction in the control group taking vinegar tablets.
There are some limitations — the sample size was small, the patients were mildly depressed to begin with, and the improvement in PHQ-9 symptoms was less pronounced in a secondary analysis that adjusted for baseline survey scores — but Baron and her team say the findings make the relationship worth exploring more closely.
“Depression is the most prevalent mental illness in the world” write The researchers:
“Commonly prescribed antidepressants have serious side effects and their effectiveness varies widely, so simple and effective adjunctive therapies are needed.”
Research continues to make progress towards a better understanding of what depression is and the various factors that may affect it, from sleep quality to body temperature.
What is clear is that depression varies greatly from person to person, and in that respect having a wider range of treatment options could be extremely beneficial.
“Further research is needed to investigate the effects of administering vinegar to people with or at risk of clinical depression, and those taking antidepressants.” write Authors.
“Focusing on mechanisms and large patient samples will strengthen the science and provide evidence that more robustly demonstrates the role of vinegar in promoting health.”
This study Nutrients.
