Vitamin A does not prevent the onset of measles. Instead, it plays a role in supporting the immune system and maintaining healthy skin and vision.
Rising Measles Cases Prompt Interest in Vitamin A Supplementation
A resurgence of measles cases across the United States has prompted increased scrutiny on unconventional treatments, most notably vitamin A supplements. As of May 15, 2025, nearly 1,000 cases have been confirmed in 30 states, with three reported deaths.
The latest outbreak has predominantly affected western Texas and New Mexico, although measles cases have also been reported in California, New York, Maryland, and other states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has urged travelers to remain vigilant.
Despite warnings from health officials, the recent comments from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, have injected new interest in vitamin A as a potential treatment or preventive measure. He has suggested that cod liver oil, which contains vitamin A, as well as the steroid budesonide and the antibiotic clarithromycin, have shown promise in managing measles.
However, the CDC continues to advocate for vaccination as the most effective means of controlling the spread of measles. Although vitamin A is listed as a potential treatment for measles, it is not considered a preventive measure.
Medical experts warn that while vitamin A can help bolster the immune system, it does not offer protection against infectious diseases such as measles. On the contrary, the disease itself can cause vitamin A deficiency, exacerbating symptoms.
Three medical and public health experts were consulted by Medical News Today to answer common questions about vitamin A supplements and measles prevention. An infectious disease specialist and two pediatricians—Monica Gandhi, Daniel Ganjian, and Danelle Fisher—all agreed that vitamin A provides no preventive benefits but may be beneficial in the treatment of severe measles cases.
The Role of Vitamin A in Managing Measles
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays a crucial role in maintaining vision and supporting the immune system. It can be found in various foods, including eggs, cheese, fish, milk, and green and orange vegetables.
While it cannot prevent measles, treatment with two oral doses of vitamin A can be helpful for those already suffering from the disease, particularly children under the age of 2. Both the CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO) advocate for the use of vitamin A supplements in such cases.
Budesonide and Clarithromycin: Unproven Treatments
After Kennedy Jr. praised the use of budesonide and clarithromycin for treating measles, some experts have expressed concern about the promotion of unproven treatments for viral infections.
There is no evidence to support the use of budesonide as a standard treatment for measles. While a recent study did not find evidence of harm from steroid use in measles, there is no clear indication for their routine use in managing the disease.
Clarithromycin is an antibiotic reserved for treating confirmed bacterial infections, not viral infections like measles.
Preventing Measles: The Importance of Vaccination
The CDC states that individuals are contagious from the measles rash's appearance. Those with measles should isolate from others for four days to prevent transmission.
The only effective means of preventing measles is vaccination, according to Fisher. Anyone unfamiliar with their vaccination status, who hasn't been vaccinated, or who is unsure should consult their doctor.
Vitamin A, Cod Liver Oil, and Consumption Guidelines
Gandhi cautioned that consuming vitamin A in high amounts can cause damage to the body, potentially leading to liver damage, skin and bone fragility, and other adverse effects.
The optimal daily intake of vitamin A varies with age, ranging from 300 mcg for babies and children to 900 mcg for adult women. Most people can meet their daily requirements through diet alone, but certain populations such as premature infants, those with celiac disease, or individuals with conditions affecting dietary absorption may require supplements.
Current Measles Vaccine Recommendations
In response to the ongoing measles outbreak in the U.S., health authorities have issued the following recommendations:
- Young children should receive their first dose between 12 and 15 months, followed by a second dose at 4 to 6 years.
- Older children, teens, and adults who have not been vaccinated should receive one to two doses of the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine, each at least 28 days apart.
For those unsure about their vaccination status, talking to a doctor is recommended.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has urged travelers to remain vigilant due to the resurgence of measles cases across the United States.
- As of May 15, 2025, nearly 1,000 cases have been confirmed in 30 states, with three reported deaths.
- The latest outbreak has predominantly affected western Texas and New Mexico, although measles cases have also been reported in California, New York, Maryland, and other states.
- Vitamin A, found in foods like fish, eggs, cheese, milk, and green and orange vegetables, cannot prevent measles but can help bolster the immune system.
- Treatment with two oral doses of vitamin A can be helpful for those already suffering from measles, particularly children under the age of 2.
- Budesonide, praised by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for treating measles, lacks substantial evidence supporting its use as a standard treatment for measles.
- Clarithromycin, an antibiotic reserved for treating confirmed bacterial infections, should not be used for viral infections like measles.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that individuals are contagious from the measles rash's appearance.
- The CDC states that only vaccination is the effective means of preventing measles.
- Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease specialist, cautions that consuming vitamin A in high amounts can cause damage to the body.
- The optimal daily intake of vitamin A varies with age, ranging from 300 mcg for babies and children to 900 mcg for adult women.
- In response to the ongoing measles outbreak in the U.S., health authorities have issued the following recommendations for vaccination.
