Measles not prevented by Vitamin A; learn the true functions of the vitamin supplement.
In the United States, measles cases have surged in recent times, with more than 1,000 identified in numerous states. The outbreak, one of the largest in decades, has claimed three lives as of May 15, 2025. The spread of measles has been predominantly concentrated in western Texas and New Mexico, though cases have also been reported in California, New York, and Maryland, among others. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a travel advisory to guard against the virus.
The outbreak mirrors similar instances in the past, including the Indiana outbreak of 2005, which, like the current one, was fueled by undervaccination. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, has suggested vitamin A supplements, found in cod liver oil, as well as the steroid budesonide and the antibiotic clarithromycin, could aid in treating measles. However, vaccination remains the optimal method to prevent measles infection.
To delve into the efficacy of vitamin A supplements in treating measles, Medical News Today spoke to three medical experts - Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease specialist with the University of California, San Francisco, Daniel Ganjian, a board-certified pediatrician at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, and Danelle Fisher, a board-certified pediatrician at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA.
The Role of Vitamin A in Measles
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin essential for vision and immune system function. It can be found in various common foods, such as eggs, cheese, fish, milk, and orange and green vegetables. While vitamin A aids the immune system, it does not protect against infectious diseases such as measles. Instead, the measles virus can cause a vitamin A deficiency during infection. In this situation, two oral doses of vitamin A can be beneficial.
Although Pfizer announced the development of a vaccine targeting immunocompromised individuals in late 2024, traditional measles vaccines remain the primary line of defense against the disease.
Evaluating Budesonide and Clarithromycin
Upon statements from Kennedy Jr. praising the medications budesonide and clarithromycin for treating children with measles, medical experts have voiced concerns about promoting unproven benefits of these therapies for treating the viral infection.
Danelle Fisher explained that there was no evidence to endorse the use of budesonide or other steroids as a standard treatment for measles. While a recent study found no evidence of harm from steroid use in measles cases, there is no clear indication for their routine use in managing the disease.
Clarithromycin, an antibiotic, is not recommended for measles itself. It should only be used when there is clinical evidence of a secondary bacterial infection such as pneumonia or otitis media, and not as routine or prophylactic therapy.
Protecting Against Measles
The CDC advises that individuals are contagious when the measles rash appears and should isolate from others for four days during that time. Vaccination remains the best defense against measles, particularly in areas where outbreaks occur, such as west Texas and New Mexico. According to the CDC, individuals who have not been vaccinated or are unsure if they have been fully vaccinated should consult their doctor regarding their status and potential vaccination options.
Though vitamin A may help alleviate complications of measles, its supplementation cannot be considered a preventive measure. Hence, in an era where diets provide ample vitamin A, taking it as a preventive measure is not advisable. Instead, prioritizing vaccination is crucial in preventing measles.
- Despite the surge in measles cases and the suggestion of vitamin A supplements, vaccination remains the optimal method to prevent measles infection.
- Measles can cause a vitamin A deficiency during infection, making two oral doses of vitamin A beneficial in such situations.
- Pfizer has developed a vaccine targeting immunocompromised individuals, but traditional measles vaccines remain the primary line of defense against the disease.
- Danelle Fisher warns against promoting unproven benefits of steroids like budesonide for treating measles, with no clear indication for their routine use in managing the disease.
- Clarithromycin, an antibiotic, should only be used when there is clinical evidence of a secondary bacterial infection and not as routine or prophylactic therapy for measles.
- In light of the outbreak in western Texas and New Mexico, the CDC advises that individuals should consult their doctor regarding their vaccination status to be adequately protected against measles.
- In the broader context of health and wellness, nutrition plays a crucial role, but taking vitamin A as a preventive measure against measles is not advisable, given the abundance of vitamin A in contemporary diets.
- Addressing mental-health concerns and political debates surrounding vaccinations is essential as the outbreak continues to potentially impact not only physical health but overall well-being.
