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Is AlkaTide Safe? Side Effects, Sugar and Who Should Ask First
AlkaTide is made for healthy adults aged 18 and over, taken once a day as labelled. No full side effect list is published for the finished gummy. Known cautions are acid on tooth enamel, a sharp feel on an empty stomach and sugar. It is not for anyone under 18, pregnant or nursing.
- For healthy adults aged 18 and over. Not for anyone under 18, and not for anyone pregnant or nursing.
- Speak to a doctor or pharmacist first if you take prescription medicine, especially anything that lowers blood glucose.
- Take it with the full 8 oz glass of water. Rinse, and do not brush your teeth for 30 minutes.
- The label panel shows 6 calories, 2 g carbohydrate and 1.5 g total sugars per gummy.
- A full list of side effects for the finished gummy is not published.
- Keep out of reach of children. Do not exceed the labelled serving.
Who is AlkaTide made for, and who should not take it?
The label and the seller agree on the group. AlkaTide is for healthy adults aged 18 and over. That is all.
- Under 18. Not for anyone under 18.
- Pregnant or nursing. Not for anyone pregnant or nursing. The label text says pregnant or nursing mothers should consult a physician before using it.
- Known medical condition. The label says individuals with a known medical condition should consult a physician first.
- Prescription medicine. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist first, particularly if you take anything for blood sugar.
- Enamel erosion or reflux. Use caution. Vinegar is acidic.
It is a dietary supplement. It is not a drug, it is not FDA approved and no supplement is. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
What side effects can AlkaTide cause?
A complete list of side effects for the finished gummy is not published. The product has never been the subject of a trial of its own, so there is no table of effects to point to. We will not invent one.
What the seller does say is practical and short.
- Stomach feel. Vinegar can be sharp on an empty stomach. If it does not sit well, take it closer to the meal and stop if the feeling persists.
- Teeth. Acid and enamel do not get on. See the next section.
- Sugar. The gummy contains cane sugar and glucose syrup.
- Taking more than the label says. It only doubles the sugar and the acid.
The 2020 systematic review pooled the safety and side effect literature for apple vinegar. We do not summarise its findings here. If safety is your main question, open the paper and take it to your doctor.
General information, not medical advice. AlkaTide is a dietary supplement for healthy adults 18 and over. It is not a drug and it is not FDA approved, and no supplement is. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist about your own health, medicines and any change to your routine.
What about your teeth?
A published case report, Gambon 2012, traces dental erosion to daily liquid apple cider vinegar. The exposure in a gummy is not the same as a drink of liquid vinegar, but the lesson still applies.
- Take the gummy with the full 8 oz glass of water the label specifies.
- Rinse with water afterwards.
- Wait 30 minutes before brushing.
- Ask your dentist or doctor first if you already have enamel erosion or reflux.
Brushing enamel that has just met acid is the one avoidable mistake with any vinegar product. We cover it at more length in our post on enamel.
How much sugar is in an AlkaTide gummy?
The Supplement Facts panel on the label image shows a serving size of 1 gummy and 30 servings per container. It lists 6 calories, 2 g total carbohydrate and 1.5 g total sugars, with 0 g fat. The apple cider vinegar line reads 250 mg.
The seller's own text says the sugar figure is not published, and tells you to check the panel on the bottle you receive. Where the two differ, the printed label is the authority, so check your own bottle. The named base includes cane sugar and glucose syrup, which is what makes it a gummy and not a capsule.
If you count carbohydrate or manage blood glucose, that belongs in your count. It is another reason to talk to your doctor first.
| Item | Per gummy |
|---|---|
| Serving size | 1 gummy |
| Servings per container | 30 |
| Calories | 6 |
| Total carbohydrate | 2 g |
| Total sugars | 1.5 g |
| Apple cider vinegar | 250 mg |
What else is in the gummy?
The seller's named list is apple cider vinegar plus cane sugar, glucose syrup, water, pectin and citric acid. The label image also lists sodium citrate, natural flavor, natural coloring and starch under other ingredients. Amounts for the base items are not published.
The label carries vegetarian, gluten-free and non-GMO marks. The gummy is set with pectin, not gelatin. If vegan status or any allergy matters to you, check the bottle you receive and ask your pharmacist.
How should you keep it away from children?
A gummy looks and tastes like candy. That makes it easy for a child to eat. The label says to keep it out of reach of children, and the seller repeats it.
Store the bottle in a cool, dry place away from heat and light. Do not use it if the safety seal is damaged or missing.
Who should you tell if something goes wrong?
Stop taking it and speak to a doctor or pharmacist if you feel unwell, and tell them what you took and how much. For an order problem, call the order desk on +1 (302) 200-3480 or email [email protected]. The website email cannot see orders.
The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements and the NCCIH publish plain guides on supplement safety. They are linked below.
Frequently asked questions
Is AlkaTide safe?
It is made for healthy adults aged 18 and over, used as labelled. It is not FDA approved, and no supplement is. Ask a doctor or pharmacist first if you take medicine or have a health condition.
What are the side effects of AlkaTide?
A full side effect list is not published for the finished gummy. Known cautions are acid on tooth enamel, a sharp feel on an empty stomach and sugar.
Can I take AlkaTide every day?
Yes, one gummy a day with 8 oz of water is the labelled use. Do not take more than the label says.
Is AlkaTide safe in pregnancy or when nursing?
No. It is not for anyone pregnant or nursing, and the label tells these groups to consult a physician.
How much sugar does AlkaTide contain?
The label image shows 1.5 g total sugars and 2 g carbohydrate per gummy. Check the panel on your own bottle, because the printed label is the authority.
Can AlkaTide harm my teeth?
Vinegar is acidic. Take the gummy with the full glass of water, rinse, and do not brush for 30 minutes. Ask your dentist if you have enamel erosion.
Which sources does this page use?
- 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. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32170375/
- Gambon DL, Brand HS, Veerman EC. [Unhealthy weight loss. Erosion by apple cider vinegar]. Ned Tijdschr Tandheelkd. 2012;119(12):589-91. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23373303/
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Questions and Answers on Dietary Supplements. https://www.fda.gov/food/information-consumers-using-dietary-supplements/questions-and-answers-dietary-supplements
- National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Dietary Supplements: What You Need to Know. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/WYNTK-Consumer/
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Dietary and Herbal Supplements. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/dietary-and-herbal-supplements
Product facts come from the printed AlkaTide label, the distributor's own paperwork and the pages of this website. Where a figure is not published, this page says so.
Our view
A gummy with one active ingredient and a plain label is easier to judge than most supplements. The cautions are short and sensible: age, pregnancy, medicine, teeth, sugar and children.
What is missing is a published side effect record for the finished product, and we have said so. If you have any doubt about your own situation, the right person to ask is your doctor or pharmacist, before the first gummy.
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