Unveiling a Sour Truth: Acute Pancreatitis Linked to Apple Cider Vinegar Supplement

TL;DR

This case report suggests a possible link between apple cider vinegar supplements and acute pancreatitis, highlighting the need for awareness about supplement-related health risks.

Contribution

The novelty lies in identifying apple cider vinegar supplements as a potential, previously under-recognized cause of acute pancreatitis.

Findings

An 84-year-old woman developed acute pancreatitis possibly linked to apple cider vinegar supplements.

Few studies have examined the risks of acute pancreatitis from less-regulated supplements like apple cider vinegar.

There is a need to raise awareness about supplement-induced causes of acute pancreatitis.

Abstract

Acute pancreatitis, a common gastrointestinal ailment in the United States, often lacks a clear etiology, with one-third of cases deemed idiopathic. We discuss an 84-year-old woman with acute pancreatitis possibly linked to a recently introduced weight loss supplement containing apple cider vinegar. Literature review unveils scant data regarding the risks of acute pancreatitis associated with less rigorously studied and regulated supplements, such as apple cider vinegar products. Considering the morbidity and financial burden associated with acute pancreatitis, there is a pressing need to report and disseminate awareness of diverse etiologies, encompassing drug and supplement-induced cases. This case report endeavors to address this need.

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