Overview

• An independent review could not replicate the study’s analyses and identified multiple errors, including patterns inconsistent with randomization and improbably small p-values.
• The journal’s notice cites lack of prospective trial registration and inadequate methods reporting as breaches of BMJ policy.
• BMJ appended the statisticians’ report to the retraction and told journalists and readers not to reference the findings in future coverage.
• The authors accepted the retraction, describing discrepancies as honest mistakes related to versioning and data handling.
• Experts say evidence for apple cider vinegar as a weight-loss aid remains limited and inconsistent, note potential risks such as dental erosion and GI irritation, and warn the widely publicized original claims may continue to influence consumers.