Do Multivitamins Break a Fast?

Most multivitamins won’t break an Intermittent Fast, but others can. Here’s what you need to know before you take it.

Multivitamins come in a huge variety. From old school Flinstones chewables to regular gel capsules, the type matters when it comes to whether or not you can have it during your Intermittent Fast.

Today, I’m sharing which multivitamins break a fast and which you’re perfectly okay to take while fasting.

Do Multivitamins Break a Fast?

Whether or not something breaks a fast depends on your goal with Intermittent Fasting. If you’re looking for the gut health perks of Intermittent Fasting, then anything other than water and electrolytes will likely break a fast. However, if you’re looking to achieve a weight loss goal, then anything that causes insulin (the storing hormone) to spike will break a fast. This means if an ingredient contains protein or carbs in certain amounts, then it’s best to keep it during your eating window.

When you look at the ingredients of a standard multivitamin, you’re mostly going to find a mix of vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C, various B vitamins, zinc, potassium, vitamin D and magnesium. None of these vitamins and minerals on their own will break a fast, which means you’re clear to have them during your fast.

BUT – just because the core ingredients won’t break a fast, doesn’t mean that ALL multivitamins are okay while fasting.

Related: Does Fish Oil Break a Fast?

Whether or not your multivitamin breaks a fast comes down to how it’s packaged (and I don’t mean the bottle).

You can typically expect a multivitamin to come in either a gel capsule or gummy form. If your multi comes in a gel capsule form, then this will not break a fast. However, if your supplement comes in a gummy form (think chewy gummy vitamins), then this will break your fast. This is because gummy vitamins also come packaged with sugar that will spike the storing hormone insulin and throw you out of a fasted state. Not to mention the act of chewing the supplement can trigger digestion that also throws you out of a fasted state.

Another notable exception are the chewable multivitamins, like the old school Flinstones ones. These often contain ingredients like fructose, maltodextrin or regular ol’ sugar – all of which will certainly break a fast.

So if your multivitamin is in a gel capsule, you’re likely in the clear to have this during the fast. Any other form should be had during the eating window.