While the scientific evidence supporting these and other potential medicinal roles for the product is, at best, limited — and, in some cases, nonexistent — some people with multiple sclerosis (MS) have recently been experimenting with this type of vinegar in an effort to manage a number of symptoms. “I think people with MS, like anyone else, start following trends they see covered in the media or things they see mentioned on social media,” says Vijayshree Yadav, MD, a neurologist and Tykeson Family Term Professor in wellness research, as well as MS Center director at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland. “Over the past couple of years, a lot of patients have been asking me about apple cider vinegar.” In general, because MS affects the central nervous system (CNS), it can cause symptoms throughout the body. Most experts believe it is an autoimmune condition, in which the immune system mistakenly attacks normal tissues in the body. This is where — at least in theory — apple cider vinegar comes in. Compounds containing some form of vinegar have been used for thousands of years for their supposed healing properties. Specifically, apple cider vinegar was at one time used as an antimicrobial — essentially, an old-fashioned antibiotic to treat infections. More recently, the product has been described as an antioxidant that can be used to “detoxify” (remove harmful toxins from) your body. So can it help with your MS symptoms? RELATED: 8 Anti-Inflammatory Foods for Multiple Sclerosis
What Is Apple Cider Vinegar?
The English word “vinegar” is actually derived from the French phrase “vin aigre,” which literally means sour wine, and the liquid’s sour taste is due to the acetic acid it contains. In the case of apple cider vinegar, the product is actually developed through the fermentation of apple juice. Yeast is used to capture the natural sugars in the juice and convert them into alcohol, which in turn is converted into acetic acid using a bacteria called acetobacter. The combination of yeast and acetobacter used in this process is called the “mother.” At least historically, the curative effects of apple cider vinegar were attributed to this potent combo, which is, in fact, a probiotic — another trendy term in health these days. Not surprisingly, given its origins, apple cider vinegar has a vitamin and nutrient profile similar to apple juice, featuring vitamin B and polyphenols, or plant-based antioxidants. “For this reason, I think, we’re seeing a lot of apple cider vinegar-based drinks on the grocery store shelves,” Dr. Yadav says.
Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar
Indeed, research suggests there may be some health benefits to apple cider vinegar — just not necessarily in MS. For example, a study published in April 2018 in the Journal of Functional Foods found that drinking 30 milliliters (about 2 tablespoons) a day of the liquid, along with a restricted-calorie diet and exercise, reduced body weight (by an average of 8.8 pounds over 12 weeks) and appetite compared with a restricted-calorie diet alone. In addition, a small study published more than a decade ago found that drinking 20 grams of apple cider vinegar (about 4 teaspoons) just prior to eating reduced post-meal blood glucose levels in people with diabetes. More recently, a study published in the December 2018 issue of the International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research found that the liquid reduced blood sugar levels and increased antioxidants in rats with diabetes. Researchers have also proposed using apple cider vinegar as an alternative to antibiotics, effectively proposing a new way of looking at an old use for the product. A study published in January 2018 in the journal Scientific Reports found that apple cider vinegar was effective at restricting the growth of E. coli, S. aureus, and C. albicans bacteria, which in some cases are resistant to currently available antibiotics. However, “research into these and other possible benefits for apple cider vinegar is very much in its infancy, which means there’s not enough evidence to support its use in these areas,” Yadav notes. “Overall, there is a little information on its potential as an antioxidant, but not enough to say it’s been proven.” And, to date, she adds, there have been no studies published in peer-reviewed medical and scientific journals supporting the use of apple cider vinegar in the management of MS symptoms. RELATED: 4 Myths About Multiple Sclerosis and Diet
Possible Use of Apple Cider Vinegar in Multiple Sclerosis
Having said that, there’s one area where the product shows promise for people with neurological disorders like MS: Apple cider vinegar may help manage gastrointestinal (GI)-related symptoms. According to the Pittsburgh Institute for MS Care and Research at the University of Pittsburgh, almost two-thirds of MS patients have at least one GI symptom that persists for six months or more. These include:
Difficulty swallowingHeartburn or indigestionNausea or diarrheaConstipation or fecal Incontinence
Although apple cider vinegar hasn’t been studied as a treatment for GI symptoms in people with MS, a case report published in the August 2018 issue of the journal Integrative Medicine found that it reduced acid reflux symptoms by 50 percent after five days of use in a 73-year-old woman with Parkinson’s disease, which like MS is a neurological disorder. Still, as with its other possible benefits, the potential for apple cider vinegar as a treatment for GI symptoms still needs to be studied further, Yadav notes. “Before you start using natural remedies like apple cider vinegar, have a specific goal for what you’re trying to address and talk to your doctor,” she adds. “Your doctor should give you the current state of research and help you determine whether or not the product, be it apple cider vinegar or anything else, will help.” RELATED: Tried-and-True Diet Tips That People With MS Swear By
