A study that claimed apple cider vinegar could aid weight loss has been retracted by the BMJ publishing group. The research, published last year in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, had suggested that daily consumption of small amounts of apple cider vinegar helped overweight or obese individuals lose weight.
The study involved 120 participants aged 12 to 25, who were divided into groups consuming either a placebo or 5 ml, 10 ml, or 15 ml of apple cider vinegar each morning. After three months, the authors reported that those who drank vinegar lost 5 to 7 kg, while the placebo group lost less than 1 kg.
However, the study faced criticism from other researchers who noted that some results appeared statistically improbable. The BMJ Group then referred the study to statistical experts, who found it impossible to replicate the results and flagged irregularities in the data set, concluding that the data required further independent scrutiny.
Given these concerns, the journal decided to retract the study. The authors acknowledged the errors as “honest mistakes” but agreed with the retraction. Helen Macdonald, BMJ Group’s ethics and content integrity editor, stated that journalists and others should no longer reference the study’s results.
