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Ingredient guide

Apple cider vinegar pills side effects

Written by the Full Measure editorial team, which sells supplements. Approved for publication by the Full Measure owners. Updated .

Drafted with AI assistance from the sources listed below. How we write these

Quick answer

Side effects at recommended amounts seem minor, according to a 2020 review of 13 human studies, but real problems are on record: a vinegar tablet injured one person's esophagus, vinegar can strip minerals from tooth enamel, and vinegar drinks caused nausea in a breakfast study of 16 adults.1,2,3,4

Key facts

  • Tests of eight vinegar tablet products found acidity and acid content varied widely between brands.2
  • In laboratory tests, vinegars drew minerals out of human tooth enamel within 4 to 8 hours.3
  • No tolerable upper intake level has been set, and no long-term safety study of vinegar pills was found.1,5
  • Applied to the skin, apple cider vinegar has caused chemical burns.6

Throat and esophagus

A published report describes injury to the esophagus from an apple cider vinegar tablet.2

After that report, the same researchers tested eight tablet brands and found their acidity and acid content differed widely, so one product's pill may be far more acidic than another's. They also doubted that some tablets contained apple cider vinegar at all.2

Take capsules with a full glass of water, as our label directs. Ask your doctor first if you have trouble swallowing or a history of esophagus problems.2

Tooth enamel

Vinegar can wear away tooth enamel. In a laboratory study, several vinegars drew minerals out of human enamel within hours, and a dental report traced worn enamel in a 15-year-old to a daily glass of apple cider vinegar.3,7

The laboratory losses reached about 20 percent of some minerals at certain depths of the enamel, although the authors note that the mouth, with saliva and food, is not a test tube. A pill swallowed whole keeps the acid off your teeth; liquid vinegar drunk every day does not, which is what the dental case report describes.3,7

Stomach and digestion

In a study of 16 healthy young adults, vinegar drinks taken with breakfast caused more nausea than a control drink, and the lower appetite that followed was largely explained by that nausea.4

In 10 people with type 1 diabetes and slow stomach emptying (gastroparesis), 30 mL of apple cider vinegar a day for two weeks slowed emptying further, which the authors said could make blood sugar harder to control.8

Slower stomach emptying is part of how vinegar is thought to act around meals, which is why it matters most for people whose stomachs already empty slowly. If that is you, or you use insulin, ask your doctor before using vinegar in any form.8,9

Rare problems with large amounts or misuse

A published case report links drinking large amounts of cider vinegar to low potassium, high renin levels and osteoporosis.10

That report concerns large amounts of liquid cider vinegar, not a pill serving, but it is a reason to stay within the label.10

Applied to the skin, apple cider vinegar has caused chemical burns, including in a teenager who followed an online method for removing moles.6

Who should ask a doctor first

  • People who use insulin or another medicine that lowers blood sugar9
  • People with diabetes and slow stomach emptying (gastroparesis)8
  • Anyone with trouble swallowing or a history of esophagus problems2
  • Anyone pregnant or breastfeeding, and anyone under 18

We found no medicine label or MedlinePlus page that lists an interaction with apple cider vinegar. Absence of a listing is not evidence that a combination is harmless, so ask your pharmacist about your own medicines.

Questions people ask

Is it safe to take apple cider vinegar pills every day?

Daily use has been studied only for the liquid, at up to 30 mL a day for 4 to 12 weeks, and we found no long-term safety study of pills. Stay within the label, and stop if you notice throat discomfort, heartburn or nausea.5

Do apple cider vinegar pills have side effects for women?

We found no side effect specific to women. The dental case involved a teenage girl who drank vinegar daily, and our label advises anyone pregnant or nursing to consult a physician first.7

Can apple cider vinegar pills damage your teeth?

Swallowed whole, a pill keeps acid off your teeth. Liquid vinegar can draw minerals out of enamel, as a laboratory study and a case report show.3,7

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Sources

  1. Launholt TL, Kristiansen CB, Hjorth P. Safety and side effects of apple vinegar intake and its effect on metabolic parameters and body weight: a systematic review. Eur J Nutr. 2020;59(6):2273-2289. Opened 2026-10-07.
  2. Hill LL, Woodruff LH, Foote JC, Barreto-Alcoba M. Esophageal injury by apple cider vinegar tablets and subsequent evaluation of products. J Am Diet Assoc. 2005;105(7):1141-4. Opened 2026-10-01.
  3. Willershausen I, Weyer V, Schulte D, Lampe F, Buhre S, Willershausen B. In vitro study on dental erosion caused by different vinegar varieties using an electron microprobe. Clin Lab. 2014;60(5):783-790. Opened 2026-10-07.
  4. Darzi J, Frost GS, Montaser R, Yap J, Robertson MD. Influence of the tolerability of vinegar as an oral source of short-chain fatty acids on appetite control and food intake. Int J Obes (Lond). 2014;38(5):675-681. Opened 2026-10-07.
  5. Castagna A, Ferro Y, Noto FR, et al. Effect of Apple Cider Vinegar Intake on Body Composition in Humans with Type 2 Diabetes and/or Overweight: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Nutrients. 2025;17(18):3000. Opened 2026-10-01.
  6. Feldstein S, Afshar M, Krakowski AC. Chemical Burn from Vinegar Following an Internet-based Protocol for Self-removal of Nevi. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2015;8(6):50. Opened 2026-10-07.
  7. Gambon DL, Brand HS, Veerman EC. Unhealthy weight loss. Erosion by apple cider vinegar. Ned Tijdschr Tandheelkd. 2012;119(12):589-591. Article in Dutch. Opened 2026-10-07.
  8. Hlebowicz J, Darwiche G, Björgell O, Almér LO. Effect of apple cider vinegar on delayed gastric emptying in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus: a pilot study. BMC Gastroenterol. 2007;7:46. Opened 2026-10-01.
  9. Feise NK, Johnston CS. Commercial Vinegar Tablets Do Not Display the Same Physiological Benefits for Managing Postprandial Glucose Concentrations as Liquid Vinegar. J Nutr Metab. 2020;2020:9098739. Opened 2026-10-01.
  10. Lhotta K, Höfle G, Gasser R, Finkenstedt G. Hypokalemia, hyperreninemia and osteoporosis in a patient ingesting large amounts of cider vinegar. Nephron. 1998;80(2):242-243. Opened 2026-10-07.

This page is information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own situation.