Apple Cider Vinegar Pills: Benefits, Side Effects, and More

So far, studies on ACV and heart disease have focused on animals. It is therefore not possible to conclude the effects of ACV on human health.

Apple cider vinegar pills: Health claims and evidence

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Apple cider vinegar is a type of fermented vinegar made from apples. Pills made from apple cider vinegar make this sour liquid easier to consume. People who promote natural health products claim that this vinegar offers numerous health benefits.

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) pills contain a dehydrated form of the vinegar. Some brands of ACV pills may include other ingredients, such as cayenne pepper or ginger.

This article outlines the scientific research on apple cider vinegar (ACV) for a range of different ailments. We also discuss the risks and potential side effects of ACV.

Major health insurance companies have faced legal trouble over their claim denial practices. In February 2018, the insurance commissioner of California announced plans to investigate Aetna’s coverage denial practices after a former medical director of the insurance company admitted that he never once looked at a patient’s medical records when deciding whether to deny claims over the three years he worked in the position, according to CNN.

Proponents of ACV claim that it offers numerous health benefits. We list some of the most popular claims below.

However, people should note that most research into ACV involves the vinegar in liquid form.

Very little information is available about ACV in pill form, and any findings relating to liquid ACV may not translate to ACV pills.

Controlling yeast and other fungi

People who promote ACV claim that it may help treat certain types of fungal infection, such as Candida infections. Candida is the fungus responsible for vaginal yeast infections and oral thrush. Candida inside the mouth can also infect dentures.

A 2014 study found that a denture soak containing 4% ACV could prevent Candida from sticking to dentures.

The 30-minute denture soak also did not affect the surface roughness of the dentures, nor did it change their color. This suggests that a denture soak containing ACV may be a safe and effective way to prevent fungal infections of dentures.

However, there is no evidence to suggest that ACV pills would have this effect.

Lowering cholesterol and reducing heart disease risk

Lipids are fatty substances in blood and body tissues. High levels of specific lipids in the blood can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Supporters of ACV claim that it can lower the levels of blood lipids that damage health, such as triglycerides and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, or “bad” cholesterol.

A 2011 animal study investigated the effects of ACV in rats that ate a high cholesterol diet. Researchers found that ACV lowered the rats’ triglyceride levels. However, ACV also raised levels of LDL cholesterol and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, or “good” cholesterol.

So far, studies on ACV and heart disease have focused on animals. It is therefore not possible to conclude the effects of ACV on human health.

However, current research suggests that the benefits do not outweigh the risks. Many experts believe that lifestyle changes and medication are probably more effective.

Treating or preventing bacterial infections

A 2018 study found that ACV has antimicrobial properties that are effective against various strains of bacteria. This suggests ACV may be useful as a bacterial disinfectant. However, using ACV to treat wounds can irritate and even burn the skin.

Controlling blood glucose and diabetes

Some people claim that ACV can cure diabetes. While there is no evidence to support this claim, several small studies suggest that ACV may help to control blood glucose.

A 2017 meta-analysis found that consuming ACV at mealtimes helped lower post meal blood glucose and insulin levels. This was the case for people with metabolic disorders, as well as healthy controls.

ACV may, therefore, be useful alongside standard treatments for diabetes. However, scientists need to carry out further research to confirm these effects.

Supporting weight loss

Some smaller studies suggest that ACV may improve weight loss. A 2018 randomized controlled trial found that taking ACV could increase weight loss among people consuming a reduced calorie diet (RCD).

Researchers divided the participants into two groups. The first group consumed a RCD along with 30 milliliters (ml) of ACV per day, and the second group followed the RCD only. After 12 weeks, the researchers compared the two groups.

Participants in the first group showed significant reductions in body weight, hip circumference, appetite, and the amount of fat surrounding the internal organs.

This data does not point to ACV alone as a remedy for weight loss. However, it does suggest that it might help people following an RCD lose more weight.

Reducing blood pressure

Supporters of ACV claim that the vinegar may lower blood pressure. One small animal study investigated this claim. The study involved feeding either ACV or acetic acid to rats with high blood pressure. Acetic acid is the main therapeutic component of ACV.

The rats that received the acetic acid showed more significant reductions in blood pressure compared with the other rats. These rats also had lower levels of renin in the blood. Renin is an enzyme that is involved in increasing blood pressure.

The researchers suggest that the acetic acid in the vinegar was responsible for reducing renin levels, which in turn, caused the drop in blood pressure.

ACV may indirectly lower blood pressure by helping people lose weight. However, there is no evidence that ACV alone causes weight loss.

As a result, people who are concerned about weight or blood pressure should focus on dietary and lifestyle changes. People can also talk to their doctor about medical treatments.

For most people, ACV is safe in moderate doses. However, being an acid, drinking ACV may erode tooth enamel. It may also cause stomach discomfort, especially in people with a history of reflux or ulcers. Very high doses can injure the throat.

How we reviewed this article:

Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Budak, N. H., et al. (2011). Effect of apple cider vinegars produced with different techniques on blood lipids in high-cholesterol-fed rats.
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Herbs and natural remedies. (n.d.).
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Khezri, S. S., et al. (2018). Beneficial effects of apple cider vinegar on weight management, Visceral Adiposity Index and lipid profile in overweight or obese subjects receiving restricted calorie diet: A randomized clinical trial.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1756464618300483
Kondo, S., et al. (2014). Antihypertensive effects of acetic acid and vinegar on spontaneously hypertensive rats.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1271/bbb.65.2690
Mahmoodi, M., et al. (2013). The effect of white vinegar on some blood biochemical factors in type 2 diabetic patients.
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mehdi_Mahmoodi5/publication/304904121_The_effect_of_white_vinegar_on_some_blood_biochemical_factors_in_type_2_diabetic_patients/links/59a44fd0aca272a6461bbd96/The-effect-of-white-vinegar-on-some-blood-biochemical-factors-in-type-2-diabetic-patients.pdf
McDonald, E. (2018). Debunking the health benefits of apple cider vinegar.
https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/forefront/health-and-wellness-articles/2018/august/debunking-the-health-benefits-of-apple-cider-vinegar
Mota, A. C. L. G., et al. (2015). Antifungal activity of apple cider vinegar on candida species involved in denture stomatitis.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jopr.12207
Shishehbor, F., et al. (2017). Vinegar consumption can attenuate postprandial glucose and insulin responses; A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.
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Yagnik, D., et al. (2018). Antimicrobial activity of apple cider vinegar against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureusandCandida albicans; downregulating cytokine and microbial protein expression.
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Medically reviewed by Zara Risoldi Cochrane, Pharm.D., M.S., FASCP — By Zawn Villines on August 16, 2019

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Apple Cider Vinegar Pills: Benefits, Side Effects, and More

Apple cider vinegar pills are a popular health supplement that many people use to lose weight and for other health benefits. Capsules containing apple cider vinegar may help to control appetite, regulate blood sugar levels, and lower cholesterol. Most of the research into the amazing benefits of apple cider vinegar has been on its liquid form. Although many reviews of apple cider vinegar supplements are positive, there has been little research into their benefits.

One of the reasons that apple cider vinegar (ACV) pills and tablets have become more popular is because of their ease of use. For many people, it’s easier to take ACV supplements 2-3 times a day than dilute raw apple cider vinegar in a glass of water to drink. Also, apple cider vinegar pills don’t have the strong sharp taste that regular cider vinegar has.

Can apple cider vinegar pills help you lose weight? In this article I’ll discuss all the benefits of apple cider vinegar and its possible side effects. You will also find out if you can take apple cider supplements for other health complaints like candida infections, acne, or bacterial vaginosis.

What is Apple Cider Vinegar?

Apple cider vinegar is made from fermenting the juice of crushed apples. The journal Medscape General Medicine says that acetic acid bacteria and yeast are added to start the fermenting process. In time, this turns the apple liquid into apple cider vinegar. 1

Raw apple cider vinegar also contains the “mother” which looks like cloudy sediment in the vinegar. These cloudy bits in the vinegar contain enzymes and healthy bacteria. It is said that much of the goodness of apple cider vinegar is contained in the mother. 1

The most popular type of apple cider vinegar on the market is Bragg’s apple cider vinegar. This is the organic raw type of cider vinegar that contains the “mother.”

Doctors on MedicineNet say that apple cider vinegar contains vitamins and minerals that can boost health. Among these are vitamins B1, B2, B6, and vitamin C. There are also small amounts of pectin, folic acid, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and iron. Apple cider vinegar also contains large quantities of acetic acid and citric acid. 2

Apple Cider Vinegar Pills or Tablets – What Are They?

Apple cider vinegar supplements are sold in the form of pills, tablets, or capsules. Dr. David Kiefer, who is a physician and teaches naturopathic medicine, says that apple cider vinegar pills usually contain dehydrated apple cider vinegar. 3

Depending on the brand, apple cider vinegar pills or tablets may also contain other ingredients or fillers. For example, some popular ACV supplements list magnesium stearate, cellulose, talc USP, or silicon dioxide, and the capsules may be made from gelatin.

Apple Cider Vinegar Pills for Weight Loss

Are apple cider vinegar pills for weight loss helpful and can they help in maintaining a healthy weight? People use the apple cider vinegar diet to help shed extra pounds and improve their digestive system.

There is actually evidence-based research into the effectiveness of apple cider vinegar in assisting with weight-loss programs. However, these studies were done on liquid apple cider vinegar and not on manufactured supplements. Therefore, it is difficult to say with certainty if taking apple cider pills would have the same effect on losing weight.

Let’s look at some of the scientific studies that have linked an apple cider vinegar diet with weight loss.

Apple cider vinegar benefits for weight loss

The most interesting study on how apple cider vinegar helps with weight loss was published in 2009 in the Bioscience, Biotechnology and Biochemistry journal.

The study found that consuming just 2 tbsp. of vinegar (such as apple cider vinegar) for just three months can cause significant weight loss. The study found that apple cider vinegar can also help you lose abdominal fat (belly fat), reduce waist circumference, and decrease blood triglycerides.

How apple cider vinegar helps you lose weight

Increases satiety. One way that apple cider vinegar helps as part of a weight-loss regime is that it helps you feel fuller for longer. The European Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported on a study that acetic acid can help to increase satiety when taken with a meal. Researchers also noted that the acetic acid content of vinegar helps to lower blood glucose levels and insulin. 4

Helps burn fat. Many people use the apple cider vinegar diet to help burn stubborn body fat. According to research published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, clinical trials have shown that acetic acid helps reduce body fat levels. It was found that, without changing diet, acetic acid helped to suppress fat accumulation and prevent fatty acid oxidation in the liver. 5

Increases insulin sensitivity. Another important factor in your battle with losing weight is to improve insulin sensitivity. Improved insulin sensitivity helps the body to turn carbohydrates into muscle rather than fat. According to the Journal of Diabetes Research, human volunteers who had type 2 diabetes showed improvements in glucose uptake and less insulin resistance when taking apple cider vinegar. 6

So, when answering the question: “can apple cider vinegar pills help you lose weight?”, there is evidence that apple cider vinegar in its liquid form may help lose extra pounds. It could be that some apple cider vinegar pills could also have benefits in losing weight. This is why many ACV supplements advertise the amounts of acetic acid that the capsules contain.

What is the apple cider vinegar diet?

The apple cider vinegar diet is all about adding diluted apple cider vinegar drinks to your daily food intake. There is no standard dose for the apple cider vinegar diet, but many people recommend taking 1-2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar diluted in a glass of water once or twice a day.

For some people, the best time to drink apple cider vinegar to lose weight is just before a meal. Or, some prefer taking a glass of diluted cider vinegar first thing in the morning to help kick-start their day.

How apple cider vinegar helps you lose weight

Of course, apple cider vinegar itself is not a magic pill to lose weight with no effort at all. The benefits of apple cider vinegar to lose weight are best felt when used as part of a weight loss plan. The effects of supplementing your diet with apple cider vinegar are more noticeable when combined with regular exercise and reducing your daily calorie intake. Some people also take a combination of apple cider vinegar and garcinia cambogia for speedy weight loss.

Apple cider vinegar pills or capsules for weight loss

Capsules and pills containing apple cider vinegar may help you lose weight as part of an ACV diet plan. In fact, for many people who find the sharp taste of apple cider vinegar difficult to stomach, apple cider vinegar diet pills may be their answer.

For people who prefer apple cider vinegar in pill form, there are various types of ACV weight-loss pills on the market. For example, many apple cider supplements contain between 400 mg and 800 mg apple cider vinegar which may be equivalent to about 2 or 3 teaspoons of liquid. Some supplements advertise that their pills contain 35% acetic acid.

In fact, user reviews of high-quality apple cider vinegar pills often mention the beneficial effect of the supplements on losing weight.

Can apple cider vinegar diet pills help you lose weight?

If certain brands of apple cider vinegar diet pills have the same effect as the liquid form, then they should help you lose weight. However, because these supplements are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Agency (FDA), it can be difficult to know exactly what is in the pills.

If apple cider vinegar diet pills are your method of choice, then it is a good idea to read other’s reviews. Although many reviews on the benefits of apple cider vinegar pills can be mixed, you should be able to get a general idea of their effectiveness.

Apple Cider Vinegar Pill as a Supplement vs. Liquid – Which One is Better?

One of the benefits of adding apple cider vinegar to your diet in liquid form is that you know exactly what you are getting. For example, Bragg’s apple cider vinegar is made from organically-grown apples and only includes natural ingredients. You can also regulate the dosage of apple cider vinegar to your taste. It is also processed in accordance with USDA guidelines.

However, when it comes to apple cider vinegar pills as a supplement, it is more difficult to get a clear picture. If you are wondering whether to use apple cider vinegar for weight loss as a supplement or in liquid form, here are some pros and cons of ACV pills.

Cons: apple cider vinegar supplements

You can’t guarantee what’s in apple cider vinegar pills

The Journal of the American Dietetic Association studied the content of various commercially-available apple cider vinegar pills. It was found that there was a great variation in the acidic and apple cider vinegar content of the supplement. There were inconsistencies in labeling and doubt as to whether some of the pills actually contained any apple cider vinegar at all! 7

Apple cider vinegar pills are more expensive

One drawback of using apple cider vinegar pills for their purported health benefits is cost. For example, a bottle of the popular Bragg’s version of apple cider vinegar (like this one) costs around $10 for a 32 fl oz (946ml) bottle and may last up to 1 month in an ACV diet. However, a month’s supply of ACV capsules (like this one) may cost around $15 and it’s impossible to know what exactly you are getting.

No “mother” in pills

Many people believe that most of the health benefits of apple cider vinegar are in the mother. However, cider vinegar in pill form doesn’t contain this and so you don’t get all the health benefits.

Processed

Because apple cider vinegar capsules are processed, it’s not possible to guarantee their potency. In fact, some studies have found that lab test results on the ACV pills didn’t match the product labeling. Also, the acidic content in some pills was as little as less than 1%. 2

Fillers

Apple cider vinegar supplements may contain unnecessary fillers and ingredients that affect the supplement’s potency.

Esophageal injury

There is a reported account of a woman who suffered burns to her esophagus when an apple cider vinegar capsule got stuck in her throat. 7

Pros: apple cider vinegar supplements

For some people, taking apple cider vinegar tablets to lose weight outweigh some of the drawbacks of taking liquid ACV.

No tooth enamel erosion

The acidic nature of cider vinegar means that long-term use could affect your tooth enamel. The journal Clinical Laboratory reported that vinegar has a potential to cause tooth decay. 8 However, many who drink diluted apple cider vinegar to boost their health prevent this by drinking through a straw or rinsing their mouth with water after.

Sour taste

For many people, the taste of liquid apple cider vinegar is unpalatable and therefore they opt for ACV pills rather than diluted drinks. In fact, the sour taste of apple cider vinegar drinks is often mentioned in reviews as a reason for choosing supplements over the liquid variety. However you can mix the apple cider vinegar drink with honey to make it taste better and enjoy even more health benefits.

Convenience

For many people, the convenience of taking apple cider vinegar pills in their diet outweighs any benefits of apple cider vinegar in its raw form. This allows people who are trying to lose weight regularly to take ACV supplements throughout the day.

Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar Pills

Apple cider vinegar has many surprising benefits for your health and general well-being. So, if you are using apple cider vinegar to help speed up weight loss, you may find you experience other benefits.

Alleviating acid reflux

Many people add apple cider vinegar pills to their diet to help reduce the symptoms of reflux. In fact, there is some evidence to suggest that the acidic nature of cider vinegar helps to prevent heartburn because it regulates stomach pH levels. A study carried out in 2015 found that drinking apple cider vinegar can reduce the instances of acid reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). 10

In fact, in reviews of apple cider vinegar pills, many users say that taking the ACV supplements regularly has helped to reduce symptoms of acid reflux.

Dissolving kidney stones

While there are no studies on the effectiveness of taking apple cider vinegar pills for kidney stones, there is evidence that the liquid variety dissolves these painful stones. For example, a study in 2011 found that acetic acid helped to dissolve human kidney stones. 12

Apple cider vinegar for candida

The antimicrobial and antifungal properties of apple cider vinegar mean that it is a natural treatment for candida infections. A study from 2008 found that acetic acid in certain vinegars can destroy strains of candida. 11 For more information, please read my article on how to use apple cider vinegar for yeast infections.

It has to be noted that the research was about using apple cider vinegar topically. There is no evidence that taking apple cider vinegar internally in liquid form or as a pill supplement has any effect on vaginal or oral candidiasis.

Reducing severity of acne

Apple cider vinegar pills for acne may not help improve your condition, but there is some evidence that using it topically can help rid your skin of pimples. For example, the journal Advances in Wound Care found that apple cider vinegar contains many antibacterial properties. Solutions containing acetic acid can help to destroy various bacterial skin infections. 9

In my article on how to use apple cider vinegar for treating acne, you can find out how to use it to kill off acne-causing bacteria, reduce skin inflammation, and dry out pus-filled pimples.

Treating bacterial vaginosis (BV)

You can use the medicinal properties of apple cider vinegar to treat the symptoms of bacterial vaginosis. As already mentioned, apple cider vinegar can help to kill off topical infections. However, in cases of vaginal bacterial infections, apple cider vinegar can help to reduce pH levels and prevent vaginal itching.

Unfortunately, there is no evidence to show that ingesting apple cider vinegar can help with bacterial vaginosis. However, you can read about how to use liquid apple cider vinegar as a home remedy for bacterial vaginosis.

How to Choose Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) Pills or Capsules

When choosing the right apple cider vinegar pill, it’s important to check a number of factors and see beyond the advertising hype. What should you look for if you choose to use apple cider vinegar supplements to lose weight?

Reviews. Always read users’ online reviews of each specific product. For example, you may notice benefits of using ACV pills that others have had. Or, you could see that certain products have a 4 or 5-star rating from people who have purchased them.
Ingredients. Some apple cider vinegar supplements have a number of added ingredients that may or may not be useful. For example, some ACV pills to break down fat contain other ingredients like globe artichokes or dandelion. Other supplements may contain cayenne pepper, kelp powder, or vitamin B6.
Powdered or liquid form. Most apple cider vinegar pills come in powdered form.
Dosage. You should also look at the recommended dosage and the number of ACV capsules contained in the tub. A large tub containing 90 capsules of 500 mg that you take 3 times a day may not be as cost-effective as one that contains 60 high-strength capsules that you take once a day.
Price. Remember that the cheapest isn’t always the worst and dearest isn’t always the best. Compare reviews and dosage amounts of various apple cider vinegar pill brands to find the best one you can afford.

Read my other related articles:

10 Surprising Benefits of Drinking Apple Cider Vinegar
How Much Apple Cider Vinegar Should You Drink?
How To Use Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) For Weight Loss

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Apple Cider Vinegar Pills: Benefits, Side Effects, and More was last modified: July 15th, 2022 by Jenny Hills, Nutritionist and Medical Writer

Apple Cider Vinegar Pills: Benefits, Side Effects, and More

Apple cider vinegar pills: Health claims and evidence