Measles prevention doesn't involve Vitamin A. Experts clarify the functions of this nutrient.
In recent times, the United States has faced a significant surge in measles cases, with over 1,000 cases reported across various states. Amidst this backdrop, there's been talk about the use of vitamin A supplements to either treat or prevent measles, sparked by recent comments by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary. To shed light on this topic, Medical News Today spoke to three medical and public health specialists.
Against the western Texas and New Mexico landscapes, measles outbreaks continue to grow. Beyond these states, cases have also been detected in California, New York, Maryland, and other parts of the country. As a word of caution, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have warned travelers to exercise caution. Measles is a disease we've traditionally kept under control, with only a few outbreaks during recent decades. The U.S. has seen two major measles outbreaks in the last few decades—the Indiana outbreak of 2005—both fueled by under-vaccination.
Rumors are circulating that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggests vitamin A, found in supplements such as cod liver oil, as well as the steroid budesonide and the antibiotic clarithromycin as effective in helping treat measles. While the CDC lists vitamin A as a potential treatment, they still strongly recommend vaccination as the most effective approach.
To gain a better understanding of vitamin A supplements, as well as the measures people can take to prevent measles, Medical News Today consulted three experts: Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco, Daniel Ganjian, a board-certified pediatrician at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California, and Danelle Fisher, a board-certified pediatrician at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California.
Vitamin A: Help or Hindrance?
Monica Gandhi explained that while vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that assists vision and boosts the immune system, it does not function as a preventive measure against measles. Instead, the disease can cause vitamin A deficiency, exacerbating the symptoms.
"While it does aid the immune system, vitamin A is not a magical cure for infectious diseases like measles. When someone has the measles virus, their body can have a vitamin A deficiency. In such a state, treatment with two oral doses of Vitamin A can be helpful," Fisher said.
Ganjian added that vitamin A supplementation, particularly for children, is seen more as a supportive measure. "It's true that severe vitamin A deficiency led to more severe outcomes in the past, but a Cochrane review showed that administering two doses of Vitamin A to children (under the age of 2 years old) with severe measles and the World Health Organization recommends giving it to adults and children with measles as well," Gandhi said.
Budesonide and Clarithromycin: Unproven Benefits
The 'unproven benefits' of two medications—budesonide and clarithromycin—have been touted for treating measles, causing concern among medical professionals.
Ganjian stated there is no evidence to support the use of budesonide, a steroid, or other steroids as a standard treatment for measles, and their use should not be considered widespread. "While a recent retrospective cohort study found no evidence of harm from steroid use in measles, there is no clear indication for their routine use in measles management, and their use should not be considered standard of care," he said.
Ganjian also emphasized that antibiotics like clarithromycin are reserved for confirmed bacterial infections—not for viral infections like measles. He advised against using them as routine or prophylactic therapy for measles.
Protecting Yourself Against Measles
The CDC states that individuals are considered contagious once the measles rash appears. The agency recommends that these patients isolate from others for four days. According to Ganjian, patients should remain in isolation from 4 days prior to to 4 days after the onset of the rash to prevent transmission.
The only proven method of prevention against measles is vaccination. Fisher underscored that, "[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."
If you haven't been vaccinated before, it's recommended to get your children vaccinated too, as they can face very severe cases of measles.
- Although vitamin A aids vision and boosts the immune system, it does not function as a preventive measure against measles; instead, measles can cause vitamin A deficiency, exacerbating symptoms.
- Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease specialist, explained that vitamin A supplementation, particularly for children, is seen more as a supportive measure to manage severe cases of measles.
- Ganjian added that there is no evidence to support the use of budesonide, a steroid, or other steroids as standard treatment for measles, and their use should not be considered widespread.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends individuals isolate from others for four days once the measles rash appears, with patients remaining in isolation from 4 days prior to 4 days after the onset of the rash to prevent transmission.
- The only proven method of prevention against measles is vaccination, and it's recommended to get children vaccinated if they haven't been previously, as they can face very severe cases of measles. Additionally, maintaining a balanced diet rich in various nutrients, including foods fortified with Vitamin A, contributes to overall health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and mental-health, as well as supports the immune system.
