Measles is not prevented by Vitamin A. Instead, this vitamin plays a role in improving the immune system's response against the measles virus.
Freshened Up: Vitamin A, Measles, and Prevention
The United States is currently grappling with a significant measles outbreak, affecting 30 states, as of May 15, 2025. The recent surge has primarily been reported in Texas and New Mexico, but cases have also been confirmed in California, New York, and Maryland.
Given recent remarks from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., U.S. Health and Human Services secretary, many people have started investigating the potential benefits of vitamin A supplements for treating or preventing measles. In an effort to address these questions, Medical News Today spoke to three medical and public health experts. Here's what they had to say.
Busting the Myth: Vitamin A for Measles
Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco, and pediatricians Danelle Fisher and Daniel Ganjian from Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, pointed out that while vitamin A plays a crucial role in supporting the immune system, it cannot protect against infectious diseases such as measles.
In fact, the experts agreed that the disease itself can cause vitamin A deficiency, making symptoms worse. Vitamin A supplements only become useful in such instances to help combat the deficiency.
Budesonide and Clarithromycin: Stick to the Science
In the wake of Kennedy Jr.'s endorsement for using budesonide and clarithromycin to treat measles, the experts expressed reservations. There is currently no evidence supporting the routine use of these medications for measles treatment. Nonetheless, further research may be needed to clarify budesonide's role, if any, in managing the disease. Clarithromycin should only be used for confirmed or highly suspected bacterial complications, not for the virus itself.
Protecting Yourself from Measles
Measles patients are most contagious when the rash appears. The CDC advises isolating patients from day 4 before to 4 days after the onset of rash to prevent transmission.
Vaccination remains the most reliable precaution against measles. In areas with ongoing outbreaks, authorities recommend young children receive their first MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccination between 12 and 15 months, with a second dose at 4 to 6 years. Adults and older children who are unvaccinated should receive one to two MMR vaccinations spaced 28 days apart. Consult your healthcare provider for guidance.
It is essential to remember that vitamin A is helpful when treating measles, especially for children, but is not a preventive measure. Therefore, there is no need for Vitamin A supplementation to prevent measles in this era where diets are rich in Vitamin A. Instead, focus on vaccination as the most effective defense.
Enrichment Data:
- Vitamin A: Strongly recommended for reducing complications in children with measles but not for prevention.
- Budesonide: No evidence supporting its use for measles treatment; may be considered in rare airway complications but off-label.
- Clarithromycin: Not indicated for measles; used for secondary bacterial infections only.
- Contrary to some claims, vitamin A, though crucial for immune system support, does not provide protection against infectious diseases like measles, and in fact, the disease can lead to vitamin A deficiency exacerbating symptoms.
- Budesonide and Clarithromycin, as endorsed by some, have limited or no supportive evidence for routine use in treating measles, with Clarithromycin appropriate only for confirmed or highly suspected bacterial complications but not for the virus itself.
- In the ongoing measles outbreak, it's advisable to vaccinate young children between 12 and 15 months, with a second dose at 4 to 6 years, apart from maintaining isolation protocols for infected patients during the contagious phase.
- There's no need for Vitamin A supplementation to prevent measles, as dietary intake of Vitamin A is generally rich, and the focus should be on vaccination as the most effective defense against this contagious condition.
- Since fish oil, a common source of Vitamin A, may also offer benefits for overall health and wellness, fitness, and nutrition, maintaining a balanced diet rich in essential nutrients is essential for overall health and well-being.
