Do Melatonin Gummies Break a Fast? Everything You Need to Know

Melatonin is a popular sleep aid that helps promote a restful sleep by regulating the body’s sleep-wake cycle. But if you’re fasting for blood work, weight loss, or religious purposes, you might wonder if taking melatonin before bed will break your fast.

While melatonin itself has no calories, some supplement forms — such as gummies or liquids — could interfere with your fasting goals. It depends a lot on why you’re fasting and how strict you need to be. So, can you take melatonin while fasting? Here’s what you need to know.

Does Taking Melatonin Break a Fast?

No, melatonin on its own will not typically break a fast. Pure melatonin tablets, capsules, or powders contain no carbs, fats, or proteins that would activate your digestive system, so taking melatonin in any of these forms does not count as a fast-breaker.

However, other forms of melatonin may contain ingredients that interrupt fasting. Liquid melatonin, for example, can include sweeteners, oils, or sugar alcohols like glycerin which could interfere with your fast. Similarly, flavored melatonin gummies — such as our MELO Sleep gummies — often contain sugars or other ingredients that stimulate digestion.

But don’t give up on gummies just yet. It’s hard to beat these sweet little bedtime treats, especially if you’re not a fan of swallowing pills or holding tablets under your tongue. Fortunately, you might be able to take a gummy form of melatonin during a fast, depending on why you’re fasting.

Do Melatonin Gummies Break a Fast?

Melatonin gummies could technically break your fast because they usually contain sweeteners or sugary flavors. Some gummies also contain fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin D combined with a small amount of oil to help with absorption. Across the board, most gummy vitamins contain at least a few calories, which can break a strict fast.

That said, it’s unlikely that one or two gummies will make much of a difference in most fasting scenarios. MELO gummies, for example, are low in sugar, free from oils or fats, and contain just 25 calories per serving. If you’re fasting for weight loss or general health, this small calorie count is very unlikely to break your fast.

Can I Take Melatonin Gummies While Intermittent Fasting?

It’s generally OK to take melatonin gummies during intermittent fasting. If you're fasting for weight loss, keeping insulin low helps burn fat. The small amount of sugar in gummies won’t significantly affect your insulin levels. Plus, melatonin itself doesn’t trigger an insulin response or break intermittent fasting.

What about sugar-free melatonin gummies? While these might seem like a better option, they can still contain sugar alcohols or other ingredients that could have a subtle effect on your metabolism, so it all comes down to personal preference.

If you’re concerned about breaking a fast, consider taking melatonin gummies at the end of your eating window to help minimize any potential impact. In fact, taking melatonin a couple of hours before bed can give it more time to start working, so there’s nothing wrong with enjoying your gummy a little earlier in the evening.

Can I Take Melatonin Gummies While Water Fasting?

Taking melatonin gummies while water fasting can be a bit more complicated than intermittent fasting. This is because water fasting typically involves consuming only water and strictly avoiding any calories, sweeteners, or additives that trigger any level of metabolic response.

If your goal is strict water fasting for metabolic control or to encourage autophagy — where your body cleans out and recycles damaged cells — it might be best to avoid gummies and stick to pure melatonin pills.

Can I Take Melatonin Gummies While Fasting for Blood Work?

Whether or not you can take melatonin gummies while fasting for blood work depends on the blood test. Some require that you consume zero calories to ensure accurate results. Sugar or other ingredients in melatonin gummies may break the fast and affect test results, particularly for tests like blood glucose or insulin sensitivity.

Other tests, like lipid profiles and thyroid function tests, sometimes allow small amounts of calories during the fasting window. In this case, it may be okay to take gummy supplements, but be sure to clear it with your doctor first.

Your best bet? Consult with a healthcare professional before taking any melatonin supplements, including gummies, while fasting. Your doctor is the best source for guidance on whether or not you can consume melatonin during your fasting period.

Can You Take Melatonin While Fasting?

Overall, whether or not you can take melatonin while fasting largely depends on the purpose of your fast and the strictness of your regimen. While it should be okay to take pure melatonin during any type of fast, gummy melatonin may not be compatible with all fasting goals.

If you’re following a strict fast, it’s best to choose melatonin pills over gummies to avoid activating your digestive system and potentially interfering with your fast.

If, on the other hand, you’re fast allows for some flexibility, melatonin gummies are unlikely to significantly impact the benefits of fasting. Consuming a couple of gummies before bed usually won’t have a noticeable impact on your metabolism, so go ahead and enjoy your bedtime treat.

Of course, some people following flexible fasting routines may still prefer melatonin pills because they don’t stimulate digestion at all. If you want to avoid the nuisance of potentially triggering your digestive processes and breaking your fast, pills are a safe choice.

Final Verdict: Should You Take Melatonin Gummies While Fasting?

So, is it okay to take melatonin gummies while fasting or should you always opt for pills? Here’s the TL;DR:

• If you’re fasting for general health or intermittent fasting for weight loss, you can safely take melatonin gummies without disrupting your fasting goals.
• If you’re on a strict water fast or fasting for blood work that requires complete calorie restriction, you should not take melatonin gummies during your fasting window.

In the end, it’s important to always talk to a healthcare professional for personalized advice before taking melatonin, especially if you are fasting for health reasons or preparing for a blood test.

Discover Fasting-Friendly Melatonin Supplements

If you’re fasting and you want to take melatonin gummies to improve your sleep quality, take a moment to consider your fasting goals. While pure melatonin won’t break a fast, some of the additional ingredients in melatonin gummies might interfere with fasting — though the impact will be very small and shouldn’t be a problem in most cases.

As you shop around for melatonin products, check the ingredients for sugar levels, calorie counts, and the presence of additives like glycerin that could trigger your body’s metabolic process and interrupt your fasting state.

Looking for somewhere to start? MELO Sleep gummies are an excellent option if you’re seeking a low-calorie, low-sugar gummy that is unlikely to interfere with intermittent fasting. Plus, our gummies are 100% gluten-free and vegan-friendly, so they’re compatible with various diets.

Shop our Sleep gummies here.