The Effect of Apple Cider Vinegar on the Lipid Profile and Electrolytes of Wistar Rats

Aim: This study was to investigate the effects of apple cider vinegar with “the mother” on lipid profile and electrolytes of Wistar rats.

Materials and Methods: Twelve female albino rats with mean weight of 150±20 were grouped into four groups. The first group was the control. The control was given distilled water and allowed access to normal animal feed ad libitum but was not administered apple cider vinegar. The second group was the group to be sacrificed after the first week of experiment. The group was given distilled water, allowed access to normal animal feed ad libitum and administered 1ml apple cider vinegar solution twice daily. The third group was the group to be sacrificed after the second week of experiment. The group had same treatment as the second group above. The fourth group was the group to be sacrificed after the third week which was the final week of experiment. The group had same treatment like the second and third groups.

Results: After oral administration of the apple cider vinegar on rats for 7 days up to 21 days, the results revealed that the significant reductions in a time dependent manner with the highest reductions obtained on the last week of experiment (p<0.05). After 21 days, triglycerides reduced from 3.37 ± 0.14 to 2.73 ± 0.13 mmol/l, total cholesterol from 4.04 ± 0.98 to 3.62 ± 0.33, low density lipoprotein cholesterol from 8.24 ± 1.31 to 7.02 ± 0.30, very low density lipoprotein cholesterol from 1.55 ± 0.07 to 1.42 ± 0.04mmol/l in the blood of rats. It also revealed a significant decrease (p< 0.05) in calcium electrolyte concentration from 11.54 ± 0.21 to 7.09 ± 0.20 mmol/l. It also revealed significant decrease (p<0.05) in the sodium and elevation in potassium electrolytes concentrations from 153.63 ±0.24 to 120.30 ± 1.31 and 3.61 ± 0.30 to 4.92± 0.46 mmol/l respectively.

Conclusion: The results suggested that the apple cider vinegar reduced triglycerides and cholesterol levels in the blood of Wistar rats. The results also suggested that apple cider vinegar reduced calcium and sodium electrolyte levels in the blood but increased potassium levels in the blood of Wistar rats based on the 1ml administration for 21 days.