| For most people, that bottle of vinegar sitting on | | | | In humans and animals, functioning of the Krebs |
| the pantry shelf serves a multitude of purposes. | | | | cycle relies on a product produced in our system |
| Not only is it a condiment, food preservative, and | | | | called Acetyl Coenzyme A created during the |
| a general household cleaner, but for many, it’s | | | | synthesis of fatty acids. |
| a medicinal wonder. Most often, it’s taken for | | | | Another acetate-based enzyme called Acetyl |
| granted, and people only see a bottle of vinegar. | | | | Cholinesterase/AchE is integral to the operation of |
| However, to scientists studying the origins of life | | | | brain functions and the central nervous |
| on Earth, acetic acid/vinegar, is thought to have | | | | system. |
| played the key role in biochemical development of | | | | In fact, there are a number of acetyl-based |
| the first primitive life forms, and without it, life, as | | | | enzymes that are essential to human/animal life |
| we know it would not exist. | | | | down to the chemical composition of genes. |
| Historical documentation of vinegar’s use for | | | | Curiously, when it comes to explaining where the |
| dye making, medicinal purposes, invigorating tonics, | | | | acetate comes from to feed the processes, |
| a condiment, and as a food preservative dates | | | | scientists’ explanations seem to be somewhat |
| back to the earliest known records. | | | | vague, convoluted, and often, contradictory. |
| Natural vinegar is produced by the secondary | | | | However, aside from the metabolic production of |
| fermentation of the alcohol in wine and is a three | | | | acetate by organ functions, large amounts of |
| to five percent solution of acetic acid in water. | | | | acetic acid is produced by acetobacter in the |
| Acetic acid is what gives vinegar its distinctive | | | | intestines which is absorbed into the system; and |
| biting taste and aroma. It was probably the first | | | | it would logically appear that that process provides |
| commercially produced acid in the world. | | | | most of the acetate needed. |
| Acetic acid in fundamental to our existence, not | | | | In a 1985 study published in the Journal of Clinical |
| only from a essential biological standpoint, but also | | | | Investigation, Carbohydrate fermentation in the |
| in the production of chemicals, light industry, | | | | human colon and its relation to acetate |
| textiles, pharmaceuticals, printing/dyeing, rubber, | | | | concentrations in venous blood, the authors’ |
| pesticides, plastics, photographic chemicals, | | | | state: "These studies show that the large intestine |
| electronics, and food processing to name a | | | | makes an important contribution to blood acetate |
| few. | | | | levels in man and that fermentation may influence |
| In nature, a family of bacteria called acetobacter | | | | metabolic processes well beyond the wall of this |
| converts alcohol into acetic acid, and they are the | | | | organ." |
| single largest producer of acetic acid to keep | | | | Several studies suggest that there may be such a |
| Earth's the life machine running. | | | | thing as an acetate deficiency, and acetate |
| The microscopic, acid resistant critters are | | | | supplementation may be useful in the treatment |
| pervasive in the environment. They thrive in the | | | | of Canavan disease, a hereditary, |
| alcoholic ecological niches of flowers, fruits, water, | | | | neurodegenerative disorder. |
| soil, and in a dormant stage, they’re even | | | | In folk medicine, apple cider vinegar is touted as a |
| floating around in the air we breathe. Acetobacter | | | | cure for many health problems such as a host of |
| also thrive in the intestines of all living creatures | | | | allergies, sinus infections, acne, high cholesterol, flu, |
| where they are essential to the digestive process | | | | chronic fatigue, candida, acid reflux, sore throats, |
| and most likely, the major suppliers of acetate to | | | | contact dermatitis, arthritis, and gout. While |
| keep our system functioning. | | | | apple cider vinegar is the traditional choice, the |
| According to the widely accepted | | | | only ingredient of any volume that may have an |
| Wächtershäuser's theory on how primitive life | | | | effect at the dosage recommended (one – |
| forms evolved from the primordial soup, the first | | | | two tablespoons a day) is acetic acid. |
| organic molecule in the chain of events was acetic | | | | As far as cider vinegar’s effectiveness for |
| acid. He based his theory on the fact that the | | | | alleviating gout and arthritis symptoms, the |
| formation of acetic acid is a primary step in | | | | anecdotal (testimonial) evidence is overwhelming. |
| metabolism in most all living things that provides | | | | And some studies give credence to the claim; |
| the energy cells use to manufacture all the | | | | however, they all point to the acetic acid content. |
| biological ingredients an organism needs to exist. | | | | The interesting aspect of the cider vinegar is that |
| There is a metabolic activity essential to life called | | | | unlike the parent apple for which, possibly, is the |
| acetylation, and among many other roles the | | | | most well researched fruit, there is no research |
| process has in the body, it also plays the key role | | | | to be about cider vinegar or even plain of vinegar |
| in the repair of DNA. A study published in the | | | | as having any health benefits. |
| 2000 Elsevier publication Cell about DNA repair | | | | To an investigative writer, in light of all the |
| states: “Data show that cells defective for | | | | abundant health claims made for cider vinegar, the |
| DNA-break repair capability lack the histone | | | | paucity of research, especially to disprove the |
| acetylase [acetylation] activity leading to apoptotic | | | | claims, evokes a great deal of suspicion – the |
| machinery breakdown.” | | | | unmistakable aroma of a rat rotting somewhere |
| Acetate hemodialysis is a common therapy for | | | | in the woodwork. It's most unusual not to see |
| people suffering with kidney failure. In several | | | | volumes of scientific studies into a product that is |
| studies, aside from acetate’s buffering effect, | | | | so entrenched in folk medicine. |
| it has shown to aid in dialysis by dilating veins, | | | | Both the parochial scientists and naturopaths fail |
| thus increasing the effectiveness of the | | | | to see the possibility of acetate deficiencies. |
| treatment. One 1987 study on stated: | | | | Maybe, it’s simply a question of ‘not |
| “Acetate provoked vascular dilatation, which | | | | seeing the forest for the for the [apple] |
| was compensated for by a heart rate-dependent | | | | trees.’ However, the role of acetate in animal |
| increase in cardiac index.” | | | | health has been well researched in animal |
| Acetic acid is fundamental to the biochemistry of | | | | husbandry, and farm animal feedstock is routinely |
| almost all forms of life. It’s the foundation for | | | | supplemented with either vinegar or acetic acid. |
| the acetyl/acetate group which is a plays the | | | | However, when realizing that primordial formation |
| essential in the Krebs Cycle/Citric Acid cycle. The | | | | of acetic acid is postulated to be responsible for |
| Krebs Cycle occurs in all plants and animals. The | | | | the creation of the first life on earth, and the |
| importance of the function lies in the efficiency | | | | essential function acetate plays in biochemistry, |
| with which it captures energy released from | | | | there has to be something special about vinegar. |
| nutrient molecules and stores it in a usable form. | | | | |