Measles resilience not impacted by Vitamin A; specialists clarify Vitamin A's true functions.
In the United States, measles cases have skyrocketed, with over 1,000 cases reported across 30 states as of May 15, 2025. This outbreak has resulted in three confirmed deaths, primarily centered around western Texas and New Mexico.
As panic and misinformation spread, the comments made by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Health and Human Services secretary, about vitamin A supplements have left many people questioning their potential effectiveness against measles.
Medical News Today consulted three medical and public health experts to help clarify common questions regarding vitamin A supplements and measles. Let's dive into their insights.
Can vitamin A prevent or treat measles?
Vitamin A is a well-known fat-soluble vitamin that aids visual functions and strengthens the immune system. It can be found in various foods like eggs, cheese, fish, milk, and orange and green vegetables.
Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease specialist with the University of California, San Francisco, explained, "While it does help the immune system, vitamin A does not help protect against infectious diseases like measles."
Danelle Fisher, another pediatrician, added that vitamin A supplementation played no role in preventing measles. However, the disease itself can lead to vitamin A deficiency, which can exacerbate symptoms. "When someone has the measles virus, their body can have a vitamin A deficiency. In that condition, treatment with two oral doses of Vitamin A can be helpful," she said.
What about budesonide and clarithromycin?
Recently, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. lauded the use of two medications—the steroid budesonide and the antibiotic clarithromycin—for treating measles. However, skepticism has arisen among medical experts over these unproven benefits.
Daniel Ganjian, a board-certified pediatrician, underscored that there was no evidence to support the routine use of budesonide for treating measles, though a recent study showed no harm from its use. Clarithromycin is generally reserved for treating bacterial infections and not recommended for use with viral infections like measles.
How to protect yourself against measles
Fisher emphasized that vaccination was the most effective means of protecting oneself against measles.
"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). Vitamin A is used when a patient already has measles and is not a preventive measure."
In summary, while vitamin A can help in treating the measles virus, there is no basis for using it as a preventive measure. Instead, the CDC continues to promote vaccination as the most effective measure to combat the spread of measles.
- While vitamin A does aid visual functions and strengthen the immune system, it does not protect against infectious diseases like measles.
- Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease specialist, explained that, despite helping the immune system, vitamin A does not help prevent measles.
- Danelle Fisher, another pediatrician, noted that although the disease can lead to a vitamin A deficiency, vitamin A supplementation does not prevent measles.
- According to Danelle Fisher, treatment with two oral doses of Vitamin A can be helpful when someone has the measles virus and has a vitamin A deficiency.
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s claims about the use of budesonide and clarithromycin for treating measles have encountered skepticism among medical experts due to the lack of proven benefits.
- Daniel Ganjian, a board-certified pediatrician, stressed that there was no evidence to support the routine use of budesonide for treating measles, though a recent study showed no harm from its use.
- Clarithromycin is generally reserved for treating bacterial infections and not recommended for use with viral infections like measles.
- Fisher emphasized that vaccination is the most effective means of protecting oneself against measles, especially in areas where the outbreak is occurring, such as western Texas and New Mexico.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to promote vaccination as the most effective measure to combat the spread of measles.
