Depression doesn’t always look the same. Sometimes it’s heavy and relentless, and other times it sneaks in quietly—dulling your joy, draining your energy, and making even the simplest tasks feel like mountains. While prescription antidepressants have helped millions of people worldwide, they don’t always work the same for everyone. Side effects, high costs, or a feeling that “it’s just not helping” often drive people to look for something else.
What if that “something else” isn’t found in a pharmacy—but in your kitchen?
That’s right. Vinegar. The same sharp, tangy liquid you pour into salad dressings or use to clean your counters is now gaining attention for something a little more unexpected: lifting your mood.
A new study suggests that taking a small daily dose of vinegar might help ease symptoms of depression—and not just as folklore or internet hearsay. This time, scientists have numbers to back it up.
Vinegar: More Than Just a Kitchen Staple?
For centuries, vinegar has had a loyal fan club. Natural health enthusiasts have praised it for its antibacterial properties, its ability to help regulate blood sugar, and even its digestive benefits. Apple cider vinegar, in particular, has earned wellness buzz for everything from weight loss to gut health.
But until now, very little attention has been paid to vinegar’s potential mental health effects.
Could something as unassuming as fermented grape juice or apple cider actually tweak brain chemistry?
A group of researchers from Arizona State University decided to find out.
The Study That Turned Heads
Led by dietitian Haley Barrong, the research team rounded up 28 adults who were overweight but otherwise in stable health. These folks weren’t diagnosed with clinical depression, but many had low moods or felt emotionally “off”—the kind of everyday blues that affect a big chunk of the population.
The participants were split into two groups:
- Group 1 drank two tablespoons of red wine vinegar diluted in water twice a day.
- Group 2 received a placebo in the form of a capsule that contained only a trace amount of vinegar.
This went on for four weeks. Meanwhile, each participant filled out two questionnaires that are widely used to assess depression symptoms: the CES-D and the PHQ-9.
Here’s where it gets interesting.
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Results That Surprised Even the Experts
On the CES-D test, which focuses on emotional well-being and how often people experience symptoms like sadness, things didn’t shift dramatically.
But on the PHQ-9—which hones in on the severity of depressive symptoms like fatigue, hopelessness, and difficulty concentrating—Group 1 showed a significant change.
In fact, those who drank vinegar saw a 42% drop in depressive symptoms.
That’s compared to an 18% dip in the placebo group—suggesting that something more than the power of belief was at work.
So, what exactly was going on inside their bodies?
Zooming In: What Was Happening at the Biochemical Level?
To understand the “how,” the research team went beyond just feelings and self-reported mood scores. They also took blood samples before and after the experiment.
They found that participants who consumed vinegar had an 86% increase in nicotinamide, a form of vitamin B3. This vitamin is vital for creating NAD⁺, a molecule that acts like a rechargeable battery for your cells. It helps repair DNA, keeps mitochondria functioning properly, and reduces cellular stress.
That’s important because mental health struggles—especially depression—have been linked to chronic inflammation, low NAD⁺ levels, and impaired brain cell repair. By increasing nicotinamide levels, vinegar might be nudging the body toward a more balanced, less inflamed state.
And that’s not all. Two other substances in the body—isoleucine (an amino acid) and isobutyric acid (a short-chain fatty acid)—also shifted in ways that suggest improved metabolic and possibly neurological function.
These are small clues, but together, they begin to form a picture: vinegar might be doing something subtle but meaningful inside the body that improves how people feel emotionally.
How Might Vinegar Be Helping the Brain?
Scientists suspect that vinegar’s mood-boosting power comes from a few different angles:
1. The NAD⁺ Boost
As mentioned earlier, vinegar seems to promote the production of NAD⁺ through increased nicotinamide. More NAD⁺ means better cell energy management, especially in the brain, which is notoriously energy-hungry.
2. Lower Inflammation
Chronic inflammation doesn’t just make joints ache—it also messes with brain chemistry. Elevated inflammation is increasingly being linked to depression. Vinegar’s ability to reduce inflammation (thanks again to nicotinamide and its other metabolic effects) could be one of the reasons for the mood shift.
3. Gut-Brain Connection
Acetic acid—the main ingredient in vinegar—helps nurture healthy gut bacteria. That’s a big deal, because gut microbes help produce neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. A healthier gut could mean a healthier brain.
So Should Everyone Start Taking Vinegar for Their Mood?
Not so fast. While these results are intriguing, there are caveats:
- The study was small (just 28 people).
- It lasted only a month.
- Participants weren’t diagnosed with clinical depression.
- After adjusting for baseline data, the statistical significance weakened a bit.
So no, vinegar isn’t a magic cure. But the researchers believe it’s worth digging deeper. It could serve as a helpful, inexpensive adjunct—a supplement to therapy or medication, not a replacement.
For the average person with mild symptoms or those just feeling a little “blah,” adding a tablespoon of vinegar to their daily routine might be a gentle way to nudge mood in the right direction.
Trying It Out: How to Add Vinegar to Your Life Safely
Thinking of giving vinegar a shot? Here’s how to do it wisely:
- Stick with 1–2 tablespoons a day, diluted in at least a cup of water.
- Drink through a straw and rinse your mouth afterward to protect your teeth.
- Use it in meals—salad dressings, marinades, or even a splash in soup or tea can work.
- Avoid it if you have acid reflux, kidney disease, ulcers, or are taking medications that might interact.
- Talk to your doctor, especially if you’re already on antidepressants or other health treatments.
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What This Means for the Future of Mental Health Support
The exciting part about this study isn’t just that vinegar showed promise—it’s that it points to something bigger. It reinforces the idea that mental health is deeply connected to what we eat, how we digest, and how our cells run behind the scenes.
As more researchers explore diet-based mood strategies—like probiotics, anti-inflammatory foods, or B-vitamin-rich meals—vinegar might be one quirky, sour, but safe step toward holistic emotional health.
The full findings were published in the journal Nutrients, and the authors hope this study will inspire more large-scale clinical trials that explore how everyday foods might support the mind as well as the body.
Until then, adding a splash of vinegar to your day could be a tiny, tangy experiment in mood care—and perhaps one of the cheapest wellness hacks around.
