- Measles cases have recently risen in the United States, with over 200 cases reported across at least a dozen states.
- In light of recent comments from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the new U.S. Health and Human Services secretary, more people have been looking into vitamin A supplements in hopes of treating or preventing measles.
- Medical News Today spoke to two medical and public health experts to answer common questions about vitamin A supplements for measles and measures people can take to prevent the disease’s spread.
The United States has recently been experiencing a significant measles outbreak, which has expanded to 12 states and
Recent statistics show that the latest rise in cases has been concentrated around western Texas and New Mexico. Beyond the outbreaks in those two states, measles cases have also been reported in California, New York, and Maryland. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned travelers to be vigilant as spring break begins.
Measles has traditionally been a well-controlled infectious disease, bar a few surges. The U.S. experienced two major measles outbreaks in the last few decades, namely the
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, has said vitamin A, found in supplements such as cod liver oil, as well as the steroid budesonide and the antibiotic clarithromycin have shown “good results” in helping treat measles.
Although the CDC lists vitamin A as a potential treatment for measles, the agency still recommends vaccination as “
To learn more about measles, whether vitamin A supplements help, and what people can do to protect themselves and their community, Medical News Today spoke to two experts: an infectious disease specialist and a pediatrician — Monica Gandhi, MD, MPH, an infectious disease specialist with the University of California, San Francisco, and Danelle Fisher, MD, FAAP, board certified pediatrician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA.
“Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that helps with vision as well as the functioning of the immune system. It is found in many common foods, including eggs, cheese, fish, milk, and orange and green vegetables,” Fisher explained.
Both experts said vitamin A provided no such benefit as a preventive measure but that the disease itself can cause vitamin A deficiency and make symptoms more severe.
“While it does help the immune system, Vitamin A does not help protect against infectious diseases like measles. When someone has measles virus, their body can have Vitamin A deficiency. In that condition, treatment with two oral doses of Vitamin A can be helpful,” Fisher said.
“It is true that severe Vitamin A deficiency did lead to more severe outcomes with measles in the past. A Cochrane review showed that two doses of Vitamin A should be given to children (especially those under the age of 2 years old) with severe measles, and the World Health Organization recommends
Fisher underscored that the only effective prevention against measles is vaccination.
“[V]itamin A is used when a patient already has measles and is not a [preventive] measure. Therefore, there is no indication in this era (where we get plenty of Vitamin A in the diet) to take Vitamin A to prevent measles,” Gandhi said.
“The best way to prevent measles is to get vaccinated for measles, especially if you are in an area where the outbreak is occurring (West Texas, New Mexico). [If] you haven’t been vaccinated before, get your children vaccinated too, as children can experience very severe cases of measles,” she added.
Gandhi said that cod liver oil contains vitamin A, vitamin D, and fatty acids, making it a more complex supplement.
“Cod liver oil contains high amounts of Vitamin A and Vitamin D. These are fat-soluble vitamins that can accumulate in the body if too much is ingested and cause Vitamin A toxicity,” said Fisher.
Although experts believe most people will meet their daily requirements via diet, some people may need supplements to ensure they get their daily dose.
“The recommended daily vitamin A intake depends on age. Babies and children need less (approximately 300 mcg) versus adults, where women should take
“In resource-rich countries like the United States, most people can consume the recommended daily allowance from their diets. Only certain populations, including premature infants or people with diseases that could interfere with dietary absorption, including those with celiac disease or Crohn’s disease, to name a few,” she added.
Gandhi warned that consuming vitamin A in high amounts can cause damage to the body.
“Moreover, Vitamin A is a ‘fat soluble’ vitamin, which means it stays around in the body and can cause toxicity (e.g. skin and bone fragility, headache, liver damage, etc.) if consumed in too high [a]mounts,” she said.
“If people are taking Vitamin A supplements, they need to make sure not to exceed certain daily levels, again depending on age (not more than 3,000 mcg for adults, less for children),” Fisher also warned.
“Vitamin A by itself can also be harmful if too large of a dose is ingested. Toxicity can cause symptoms including nausea, diarrhea, rash, blurred vision, drowsiness, muscle weakness and other symptoms. People who eat diets with Vitamin A in them do not need regular Vitamin A supplementation.”
— Danelle Fisher, MD
The
U.S. health authorities recommend that young children receive their first dose at ages 12-15 months and the second at ages 4-6.
Meanwhile, older children, teens, and adults who are not vaccinated should receive one to two doses of the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine, each at least 28 days apart.
If you have not had the MMR vaccine as a child, only had one dose, or are unsure if you’ve been fully vaccinated, experts recommend speaking with your doctor.
