A study involving mice suggests that vinegar—or its main ingredient, acetic acid—may alleviate ulcerative colitis. This condition is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes long-lasting inflammation and ulcers in the digestive tract that can cause abdominal pain and other symptoms. In the study, researchers found that vinegar reduced inflammation in the colon by suppressing proteins and molecular processes that trigger inflammation. They also found acetic acid exposure resulted in an increase in beneficial bacteria in the gut. The findings may lead to a simple way of treating ulcerative colitis in the future.
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, January 2016