| Available research suggests vinegar has antiglycemic and anti-obesity properties, yet medicinal vinegar use may increase urine acidity. Since increased urine acidity is associated with adverse health consequences, more research is needed to determine what dietary factors influence the urine pH response to vinegar ingestion.;Trial 1 examined whether vinegar ingestion altered 24-h urine pH in a randomized, crossover design. Healthy subjects (age 27.7+/-3.1 y, body mass index, BMI 25.0+/-2.0 kg/m2) ingested 4 tablespoons/day raspberry vinegar (VIN) or cranberry juice (CON) for 3 days. During the VIN phase, 24 h urine pH was decreased in individuals with low (<50 mmol/24 h) versus high potassium excretion (5.62+/-0.16 vs. 6.24+/-0.14, P=0.020), suggesting high intakes of potassium-rich alkaline foods may buffer vinegar-induced acid load.;Trial 2 tested the antiglycemic effects of a pickle product in third-trimester pregnant women (age: 30.2+/-4.1y; pre-pregnancy BMI: 24.4+/-4.1 kg/m2) and healthy adults (age: 30.5+/-3.3y; BMI: 25.9+/-1.7 kg/m2). Participants consumed frozen pickle juice or control before a bagel/juice meal (75 g carbohydrate) in a randomized, crossover fashion. In healthy adults, glycemia at 0-60 min (incremental-area-under-the-curve, iAUC) was significantly reduced by pickle juice versus control (-46%, P=0.038), while glycemia non-significantly increased in pregnant women (+/-10%, P=0.257). Although pickled food products possess antiglycemic properties in healthy adults, they may be ineffective for managing postprandial glycemia during pregnancy.;Trial 3 investigated the interaction between dietary acid load, potassium, and vinegar on urine acidity and fat oxidation in healthy adults (age 28.9+/-9.9 y; BMI 24.1+/-4.2 kg/m2). In a randomized, crossover trial, participants completed 3 phases while consuming a high acid load diet: control (CON), 4 tablespoons/day white vinegar (VIN), and vinegar + 3 cups/day tomato juice (TOM) for 3 days each. It was found that (1) medicinal doses of vinegar do not increase urine acidity while consuming a high acid load diet, (2) supplemental tomato juice increases dietary/urinary potassium levels but does not significantly impact urine pH, and (3) vinegar does not alter fat oxidation at rest or during exercise in a fasting state. Future research can elucidate how vinegar ingestion may influence urine acidity and substrate utilization among different populations and testing circumstances. |
