Acetic acid supplements and metabolic markers in adults
What it found
In adults, taking acetic acid daily lowered triglycerides in people who were overweight or obese and in people with type 2 diabetes, and lowered fasting blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes.
Other metabolic and body measurements showed no clear change.
What they found
Studies in people
Triglycerides in overweight people
In people who were overweight or obese but otherwise healthy, acetic acid supplementation reduced triglyceride levels compared with control.
Triglycerides in type 2 diabetes
In people with type 2 diabetes, acetic acid supplementation also reduced triglyceride levels compared with control.
Fasting blood sugar
In people with type 2 diabetes, acetic acid supplementation reduced fasting blood glucose levels compared with placebo and low-dose comparators.
Other outcomes unchanged
No other changes were seen for the other metabolic or body measurements assessed, including HbA1c, HDL, and body measurements.
Other findings
Study quality concerns
Five of the 16 studies did not specify the dose of acetic acid, no studies measured blood acetate levels, and only one study controlled for background acetic acid-rich food consumption. Most studies had an unclear or high risk of bias.
What the authors conclude
“Supplementation with dietary acetic acid is well tolerated, has no adverse side effects, and has clinical potential to reduce plasma TAG and FBG concentrations in individuals with type 2 diabetes, and to reduce TAG levels in people who are overweight or obese.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say supplementation with dietary acetic acid is well tolerated, has no adverse side effects, and has clinical potential to reduce plasma TAG and FBG concentrations in individuals with type 2 diabetes, and to reduce TAG levels in people who are overweight or obese.
- They note that no significant effects were seen on HbA1c, HDL, or anthropometric markers.
- They call for high-quality, longer-term studies in larger cohorts to confirm whether dietary acetic acid can act as an adjuvant therapeutic agent in metabolic comorbidities management.
How it was done
Acetic acid has shown potential as a dietary therapy for chronic and metabolic illness, and it may improve glucose regulation and insulin sensitivity in people with heart and metabolic conditions and type 2 diabetes. Evidence from clinical trials on its longer-term effects has been inconsistent.
The authors searched five databases up to October 2020 for randomised controlled trials in adults that tested dietary acetic acid for at least 1 week. They found 16 studies with 910 participants, who took between 750 and 3600 mg of acetic acid daily, with interventions lasting an average of 8 weeks.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- Most of the included studies had an unclear or high risk of bias, so the results may not be reliable.
- Five studies did not report the dose of acetic acid, and no study measured blood acetate levels, so it is unclear how much was actually absorbed.
- Only one study controlled for other acetic acid-rich foods in the diet, so the effects of the supplement alone are uncertain.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Monash University, Australia; Monash University and Alfred Hospital, Australia
The paper
- Title
- Effect of Dietary Acetic Acid Supplementation on Plasma Glucose, Lipid Profiles, and Body Mass Index in Human Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
- Type
- Systematic review and meta-analysisThe authors follow a set, published method to find every relevant study, then combine the numbers from them into one result.
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Valdes DS, So D, Gill PA, Kellow NJ (2021). Effect of Dietary Acetic Acid Supplementation on Plasma Glucose, Lipid Profiles, and Body Mass Index in Human Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2020.12.002PubMed 33436350DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error