BMJ retracts apple cider vinegar weight‑loss study
The BMJ Group has retracted a March 2024 study in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health that had reported dramatic weight loss from daily apple cider vinegar doses. The retraction, announced Oct. 5, 2025, follows expert challenges about the study’s quality and methodology; the 120‑participant trial (conducted in Lebanon) originally reported roughly 9% body‑mass loss over 12 weeks. The move has U.S. relevance because of celebrity endorsements, commercial brands (e.g., Bragg), and ongoing public interest in weight‑loss claims.
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📌 Key Facts
- BMJ Group retracted the March 2024 study on October 5, 2025 after 'concerns raised about the quality of the work.'
- The original trial enrolled 120 overweight or obese participants in Lebanon and reported about 9% body‑mass loss with daily vinegar for 12 weeks.
- Scientists alerted BMJ to methodological concerns in June 2024; critics say the effect size was implausible and the delay to retraction highlights publication‑oversight issues.