Apple cider vinegar benefits for men: does it help ED?

If you have apple cider vinegar (ACV) in your kitchen, it’s likely either because you have an old bottle in the back of your pantry or you’ve recently purchased one after hearing buzzy claims about apple cider vinegar’s benefits for men. While it’s long been used for household cooking and cleaning, ACV has recently garnered a lot of attention for its purported health perks, which range from boosted energy levels and reduced bloating to clearer skin and even cured erectile dysfunction (ED).  

Given all the hype around ACV as a natural home remedy and wellness elixir, you’re likely wondering whether the golden liquid is really all that, well, golden for your health. Here, we break down the science around apple cider vinegar’s benefits for men, including one particularly popular question: can it help you perform better in the bedroom? (Spoiler alert: Probably not in and of itself.)

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Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is essentially fermented apple juice. It undergoes two fermentation processes—yeast fermentation and acetic acid fermentation—to turn the juice into alcohol and then vinegar. ACV contains about 5% acetic acid, which gives vinegar its sour taste and smell and, according to some researchers, some of ACV’s potential benefits. Additionally, ACV contains bioactive compounds, such as carbohydrates, flavonoids, polyphenols, vitamins, and minerals, which may also play a role in its potential health benefits. That said, some of these components are found in ACV in relatively small amounts and vary depending on the brand and production methods. 

Most commercially available bottles of ACV are diluted with water to contain about 5% ACV. You can buy pasteurized and unpasteurized apple cider vinegar, though the former is more often used for cooking or as a household cleaner, and the latter is typically consumed for health purposes. 

“The raw/unpasteurized version isn’t heat treated, so it retains all of the good bacteria and enzymes from the fermentation process,” explains dietitian Matthew J. Landry, PhD, RDN, assistant professor of Population Health and Disease Prevention at the University of California, Irvine. This includes something called “the mother,” which is a mix of acetic acid bacteria and yeast that some researchers posit could offer probiotic and gut health benefits.

Before getting into the potential health benefits of apple cider vinegar for men, it’s important to note that there aren’t many high-quality studies on ACV and its effect on human health. “Apple cider vinegar doesn't have a whole lot of research to back it up, and especially large, randomized controlled trials,”—aka RCTs, the gold-standard of clinical trials—“which we really want to use as our evidence base,”
Dr. Landry says. 

The research we do have suggests a few potential perks of ACV (listed below) that can affect your overall health and, in turn, may impact your sexual health. “For men, maintaining a healthy weight and stable blood sugar levels can indirectly benefit overall health and potentially support sexual health, as both are critical factors for erectile function,” explains Justin Houman, MD, FACS, a board-certified urologist, men’s sexual and reproductive health specialist, and assistant professor of urology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. “However, while ACV may support some aspects of wellness, there is no direct evidence to suggest it specifically enhances sexual health or treats conditions like erectile dysfunction (ED).”

May improve heart health

Apple cider vinegar may help improve some important markers of heart health, including improving blood lipids (i.e. lowering cholesterol levels and triglyceride levels), Dr. Landry says. For example, a 2021 meta-analysis shows ACV can help lower levels of total cholesterol, especially among patients with type 2 diabetes or in people who used ACV for more than eight weeks. High levels of cholesterol in your blood are generally bad news for your health; they can contribute to the build-up of plaque in your arteries (atherosclerosis), which may impede circulation, increase blood pressure, and increase your risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke.  

In case you weren’t aware, cardiovascular disease and hypertension (high blood pressure) are closely linked to erectile dysfunction. In fact, ED can be one of the first signs of heart disease in men. One reason why: The cavernosal arteries in the penis (which fill with blood to create an erection) are small and can develop blockages from atherosclerotic plaques earlier than elsewhere in the body, resulting in ED symptoms years before the clinical appearance of heart disease. “If someone has atherosclerotic plaque, or hardening in their arteries, it can make it a lot harder to get or maintain an erection,” Dr. Landry says.

Promotes weight loss and management

One of the most popular claims about ACV is that it can help with weight loss or weight management. ACV won’t magically get you to drop pounds, but some evidence suggests it might help with weight management. One new study found that consuming a small amount of ACV daily (5 mL–15mL, diluted in water and consumed first thing in the morning) for 4–12 weeks was associated with significant reductions in weight, body mass index, waist/hip circumferences, and body fat ratio in adolescents and young adults with overweight or obesity. 

“Apple cider vinegar might help with some modest weight loss,” Dr. Landry says. “And that's just coming from feeling more satiated and maybe helping to reduce hunger and appetite cues.”

Though at times viewed as a purely aesthetic concern, body weight can significantly impact your overall health, including your sexual health. Obesity, for example, is commonly correlated with ED and is associated with a 50% increase in ED compared to individuals of normal weight. “Someone that is either overweight or obese, with greater body adiposity, that could also make it more difficult for them to get or maintain an erection over time,” Dr. Landry says.  In this setting, ACV will only help you lose weight if you eat less food!

Controls blood sugar and helps reduce diabetes risk

In addition to managing cholesterol and triglyceride levels, ACV appears to help with blood sugar control. For example, the aforementioned 2021 meta-analysis found that ACV consumption improved fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels—an indicator of how well your body regulates glucose and a key marker in diagnosing diabetes—especially when the intervention lasted at least six weeks. A more recent study showed a significant improvement in FBG and hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c), another important blood sugar index, after consuming 30 mL of ACV daily for eight weeks. 

“Some research shows that apple cider vinegar might improve insulin sensitivity, so how our blood sugar responds to a meal, and we know that better blood sugar management reduces our risk of diabetes,” Dr. Landry explains.

What does this have to do with sexual performance? Well, like cardiovascular disease and obesity, diabetes is another condition that’s strongly correlated with ED. “If you're able to better manage your blood sugar and decrease your risk for diabetes, then that in itself might help with sexual health because a person with type 2 diabetes is more likely to have erectile dysfunction,” Dr. Landry says.

May improve digestive health

Drinking ACV could potentially improve digestive health, though we don’t have much science to back it up. The theory behind this apple cider vinegar benefit for men relies on the qualities found in raw or unpasteurized apple cider vinegar; it retains good bacteria and enzymes from the fermentation process, including “the mother,” which may contribute to digestive or gut health, Dr. Landry says. “ACV may also aid digestion for some people by supporting stomach acidity,” Dr. Houman adds. 

While there’s potential here, the science isn’t quite there. Some animal studies show that ACV can improve certain markers of digestive health in chickens and fish, for example, but we can’t extrapolate those results to humans. Not to mention, many people anecdotally report digestive distress after drinking ACV—but more on that below.

What does this mean for your sexual health? Well, there aren’t any direct links between digestive health and sexual performance or ED, but research shows that higher levels of systemic immune inflammation (in which gut health plays an important role) are linked to increased risk of ED. Again, we don’t have enough science to truly support these connections in humans, but it’s an area where ACV might have potential. 

ACV may help with some of the factors above, which could have cascading effects on sexual health. Still, there’s no clinical evidence to support the claim that apple cider vinegar directly improves erectile dysfunction. 

“ED is typically caused by factors such as vascular health issues, diabetes, low testosterone, or psychological factors,” Dr. Houman explains. “While ACV might contribute to better blood sugar regulation or weight management, which are important for overall health, it should not be considered a treatment for ED.”

Dr. Landry agrees. “I don't think consuming apple cider vinegar immediately helps with sexual health or erectile dysfunction,” he says. “It's more of a secondary or tertiary benefit. It's working through improving weight, blood sugar, or something like that to offer any potential benefits.” 

Instead of using ACV to treat potential erectile dysfunction, you should prioritize evidence-based treatments such as lifestyle changes (like eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly) and medications like PDE5 inhibitors, Dr. Houman says.

Still, if you want to reap the potential benefits of apple cider vinegar, it’s important to make sure you’re doing so safely. Both experts interviewed caution against drinking ACV straight. “Avoid consuming it undiluted, as it is highly acidic and can damage tooth enamel and the gastrointestinal lining,” Dr. Houman says. Instead, he recommends mixing 1-2 tbsp of ACV in a large glass of water and consuming it with a meal to minimize potential irritation to the stomach or esophagus.

Dr. Landry also suggests incorporating ACV into foods like salad dressing or marinade. “That way, if it's with a salad or a grain bowl, you're getting the benefits of those ingredients, too,” he says. “If we really believe that apple cider vinegar has some benefits, let's maximize those by consuming it with other really nutritious foods.” 

Consuming apple cider vinegar regularly, especially if you drink it straight or diluted in water, can carry several potential risks.

• Gastrointestinal irritation. “ACV’s acidity can cause stomach upset or esophageal irritation, especially if consumed undiluted,” Dr. Houman says. This includes nausea, which many people on social media anecdotally report as a consequence of downing ACV.

• Tooth enamel damage. Prolonged exposure to the high acidity of ACV can erode tooth enamel over time.

• Drug interactions. ACV may interact with medications like diuretics (often taken for high blood pressure) or insulin, potentially affecting potassium levels or blood sugar control, Dr. Houman explains. 

• Hypokalemia (low potassium). “Excessive intake of ACV can lead to low potassium levels, which can affect muscle and heart function,” Dr. Houman adds.

Because of the potential risks, you should run the idea of adding ACV to your routine by your healthcare provider before trying the liquid on your own—a practice that’s always a good idea when starting a new supplement or regimen. 

“Apple cider vinegar has been touted for its general health benefits, including improved digestion, blood sugar control, and potential support for weight management,” Dr. Houman says. But we just don’t have enough scientific proof to validate any of these claims confidently. If you’re considering trying ACV for its health benefits, keep the following in mind:

• Apple cider vinegar may offer some general health perks, but the science surrounding its effects and the mechanisms behind them is still hazy. Any specific allegations about its potential to remedy issues like erectile dysfunction, acne, or bad breath are scientifically unfounded. 

• If you want to try ACV, be sure to dilute the liquid in some manner. This could mean drinking 1-2 tbsp in a glass of water or incorporating it into your diet through foods like salad dressings or marinades. However, drinking ACV can come with some risks, including tooth erosion, drug interactions, and gastrointestinal irritation. 

• It’s best to consult with your healthcare provider before supplementing your diet with apple cider vinegar—and if you’re picking up the golden liquid to help with a condition like erectile dysfunction, keep in mind that there are many other proven treatments you should consider first. 

At the end of the day, if you’re experiencing symptoms of ED, be sure to speak to a healthcare provider. They are best equipped to determine what may be causing your down-there difficulties and recommend a safe and effective treatment plan, such as prescription medications like Viagra (sildenafil) or Cialis (tadalafil)—both of which work best when combined with diet and exercise. 

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How we reviewed this article

Every article on Health Guide goes through rigorous fact-checking by our team of medical reviewers. Our reviewers are trained medical professionals who ensure each article contains the most up-to-date information, and that medical details have been correctly interpreted by the writer.

Editorial Guidelines | Medical Review Process

Current version

February 27, 2025

Written by

Lauren Mazzo

Fact checked by

Peter Schlegel, MD, FACS and Raagini Yedidi, MD

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About the medical reviewers

Peter Schlegel, MD, FACS

Peter Schlegel, MD, FACS, is a Ro Advisor, board-certified urologist, and internationally acclaimed expert in the treatment of male fertility. For nearly 20 years, Dr. Schlegel served as the chair of Urology at New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell. He now focuses on providing the best patient care possible for urologic conditions through his private practice.

Raagini Yedidi, MD

Raagini Yedidi, MD, is an internal medicine resident and medical reviewer for Ro.