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 people 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 2017 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 against measles 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 A in adults and children with measles,” Gandhi
explained.
How to protect yourself against measles
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 daily,” 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.
How much vitamin A is
too much?
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
Current measles vaccine recommendations
The current vaccination guidelines, 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.
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