Can vitamin A prevent
measles? Experts debunk myths and answer common questions.
- 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 affected over
220 peopleTrusted Source as
of March 7. Currently, there is one confirmed death and one under
investigation.
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 Minnesota
outbreak of 2017Trusted Source and
the Indiana outbreak of 2005.
Both events were fuelled by undervaccination.
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 “the best
defense Trusted SourceagainstTrusted Source measlesTrusted Source infection.”
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.
Can vitamin A prevent or treat measles?
“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 two doses of
Vitamin ATrusted Source in
adults and children with measles,” Gandhi explained.
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.
Vitamin A and cod liver oil: What to know
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 700 mcg
daily, and men should take 900 mcg dailyTrusted Source,”
said Fisher.
“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 current
vaccination guidelinesTrusted Source,
in response to the growing measles outbreak in the U.S., are as follows:
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.