Measles resistance is not guaranteed by Vitamin A consumption. Specialists clarify the true effects of this vitamin.
The United States is experiencing a significant measles outbreak, with over 1,000 cases reported across 30 states as of May 15, 2025. The recent surge in cases has been concentrated in western Texas and New Mexico, although outbreaks have also been reported in other states, including California, New York, and Maryland.
Three confirmed deaths have been reported due to the disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned travelers to be vigilant, particularly if traveling to affected areas.
Measles, a highly contagious infectious disease, has traditionally been well-controlled, save for a few surges. The U.S. has experienced two major measles outbreaks in the last few decades – the and the Indiana outbreak of 2005 – both of which were fueled by undervaccination.
Recent comments from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, have prompted increased interest in vitamin A supplements as a potential treatment for measles. Kennedy Jr. has suggested that vitamin A, found in supplements such as cod liver oil, as well as the steroid budesonide and the antibiotic clarithromycin, have shown promise in helping treat measles.
However, the CDC still recommends vaccination as the most effective prevention against measles. Medically, vitamin A is not considered a preventive measure, but rather a treatment for those already infected, as the disease itself can cause vitamin A deficiency and exacerbate its symptoms.
To clarify commonly asked questions about vitamin A supplements and measles prevention measures, Medical News Today spoke to three 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, California, and Danelle Fisher, a board-certified pediatrician at the same institution.
Can Vitamin A Prevent or Treat Measles?
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin essential for vision and immune system functioning. Found in common foods like eggs, cheese, fish, milk, and orange and green vegetables, vitamin A can help the immune system, but it does not protect against infectious diseases like measles.
While vitamin A cannot prevent measles, it can help manage severe cases by reducing the risk of complications such as pneumonia and death, particularly in children. Vitamin A supplementation is recommended for children with measles, especially those under the age of 2, as severe vitamin A deficiency can lead to more severe outcomes with measles.
What About Budesonide and Clarithromycin?
Experts have expressed concern about touting the unproven benefits of budesonide and clarithromycin for the treatment of measles, a viral infection. There is no evidence to support the use of budesonide or other steroids in treating measles, with only limited data available on the use of budesonide specifically. The use of clarithromycin, an antibiotic, is reserved for treating confirmed bacterial infections.
How to Protect Yourself Against Measles
The CDC states that people are contagious with measles from the time the rash appears. To prevent transmission, patients with measles should isolate from others for four days.
Vaccination is the only effective prevention against measles. The CDC recommends that young children receive their first dose at ages 12-15 months and the second at ages 4-6, while 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.
Vitamin A is used when a patient already has measles and is not a preventive measure. Therefore, there is no indication in this era to take Vitamin A to prevent measles.
Vitamin A and Cod Liver Oil: What to Know
Cod liver oil contains vitamin A, vitamin D, and fatty acids, making it a more complex supplement. While most people can consume the recommended daily allowance of vitamin A through their diets, certain populations, such as premature infants and those with diseases that affect dietary absorption, may need supplementation.
Consuming vitamin A in excessive amounts can cause damage to the body, leading to symptoms such as skin and bone fragility, liver damage, and headache. To avoid overdose, vitamin A supplementation should only be taken under the supervision of a licensed healthcare professional and according to medical guidelines.
Current Measles Vaccine Recommendations
In response to the growing measles outbreak in the U.S., the CDC recommends that young children receive their first dose at ages 12-15 months and the second at ages 4-6. Older children, teens, and adults who are not vaccinated should receive one to two doses of the MMR vaccine, each at least 28 days apart.
If you are unsure whether you have been fully vaccinated, experts recommend speaking with your healthcare provider.
- The recent surge in measles cases in the United States has brought discussions about potential treatments, with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggesting vitamin A supplements such as cod liver oil, or the use of steroids and antibiotics like budesonide and clarithromycin, as a means to help treat measles.
- Although vitamin A is essential for vision and immune system functioning, found in common foods like eggs, cheese, fish, milk, and orange and green vegetables, it does not protect against infectious diseases like measles.
- To effectively prevent measles, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends vaccination as the most effective measure, with young children receiving their first dose at ages 12-15 months and the second at ages 4-6, and older children, teens, and adults who are not vaccinated receiving one to two doses of the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine, each at least 28 days apart.
- While vitamin A can help manage severe cases of measles by reducing the risk of complications such as pneumonia and death, particularly in children under the age of 2, it is not considered a preventive measure for measles.
