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BMJ Group has retracted analysis suggesting that small every day portions of apple cider vinegar would possibly assist people who find themselves chubby or overweight to drop some pounds.
The small scientific trial was printed in BMJ Vitamin, Prevention & Well being in March 2024. The examine findings generated widespread worldwide consideration on the time, and proceed to be steadily referred to in media protection.
The retraction was prompted by considerations raised in regards to the high quality of the work, together with the strategy to statistical evaluation of the info; implausible statistical values; the reliability of the uncooked knowledge; insufficient reporting of strategies; and lack of potential trial registration, which breaches BMJ Group’s editorial coverage.
Initially, considerations had been raised in critiques of the examine, a few of which had been printed as letters within the journal. However after assessment by BMJ Group’s content material integrity group, the examine was referred to statistical consultants to guage its reliability. This included makes an attempt to duplicate the outcomes and look at the authenticity of the underlying knowledge equipped by the authors.
It wasn’t attainable for the statisticians to duplicate the outcomes and a number of analytical errors had been recognized. There have been additionally irregularities within the knowledge set, and their report, which is appended to the retraction discover, concluded that the info collected from every participant would require additional unbiased scrutiny.
The authors stated that the recognized errors had been trustworthy errors, however they agree with the choice to retract the examine.
Dr. Helen Macdonald, Publication Ethics and Content material Integrity Editor at BMJ Group, stated, “Tempting though it is to alert readers to an ostensibly simple and apparently helpful weight loss aid, at present the results of the study are unreliable, and journalists and others should no longer reference or use the results of this study in any future reporting.”
She added, “This retraction displays our strategic and proactive strategy to investigating considerations raised in regards to the content material we publish. We act the place mandatory within the pursuits of openness and the significance of correcting the scientific report.
“While we deal with allegations as swiftly as possible, it’s very important that due process is followed. Investigations are often complex. This one involved detailed scrutiny of data and correspondence with researchers, institutions, and other experts, for example. Reaching a sound and fair and final decision can therefore take several months.”
Commenting on the choice to publish the examine regardless of the dearth of trial registration, Professor Martin Kohlmeier, editor in chief of BMJ Vitamin Prevention & Well being, defined, “In hindsight, this was the improper determination to make. However the authors come from a scientific setting that’s underrepresented in dietary analysis and the journal goals to prioritize top quality proof, which normally comes from scientific trials.
“These are relatively unusual in nutritional research as they can be challenging to undertake because of the numbers of participants and time needed to obtain meaningful results.”
Extra info:
Apple cider vinegar for weight administration in Lebanese adolescents and younger adults with chubby and weight problems: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled examine, BMJ Vitamin Prevention & Well being (2025). DOI: 10.1136/bmjnph-2023-000823ret
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Journal retracts paper on apple cider vinegar and weight reduction (2025, September 23)
retrieved 23 September 2025
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