Measles prevention not guaranteed by Vitamin A: Experts clarify its actual functions
Quick Take:
Measles cases are seeing a considerable increase in the United States, with over 1,000 cases confirmed in multiple states. People have become more curious about vitamin A supplementation as a potential remedy due to comments from Robert F. Kennedy Jr. But the medical experts advise that vitamin A isn't beneficial as a preventive measure; however, it can help improve the symptoms if the infection causes a vitamin A deficiency.
As wariness grows, Meghan's Daily Dose decided to consult infectious disease specialists and pediatricians to enlighten the public on the role of vitamin A supplements in measles, along with available prevention methods.
Vitamin A: A Double-Edged Sword
Vitamin A, a vital fat-soluble vitamin crucial for vision and immune system functioning, can be found in numerous everyday foods, including dairy products and orange and green vegetables. While it supports the immune system, vitamin A does not offer protection against infectious diseases like measles. On the contrary, measles can cause vitamin A deficiency, aggravating the illness.
Experts like Monica Gandhi of the University of California, San Francisco and Danelle Fisher** of Providence Saint John's Health Center emphasize that vitamin A supplementation could be beneficial for people with measles, especially for children, as a supportive measure to help combat the deficiency sometimes caused by the disease.
However, Fisher cautions about the importance of not overindulging in vitamin A. Excessive vitamin A consumption can cause toxicity, leading to various symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea, and even liver damage.
Budesonide and Clarithromycin: Uncharted Territory
While Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggested the use of steroids like budesonide and the antibiotic clarithromycin for measles treatment, the experts express concern about stressing the benefits of unproven treatments.
Daniel Ganjian of Providence Saint John's Health Center states, "There is no evidence to support the use of budesonide or other steroids as a standard treatment for measles." He further adds that "there is no clear indication for their routine use in measles management."
Likewise, clarithromycin, an antibiotic, is not recommended for measles treatment, as antibiotics are effective only against bacterial infections, not viral ones like measles.
The Gatekeepers: Preventative Measures
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strongly suggests isolation for people with measles for 4 days before and 4 days after the onset of the rash, to curtail the virus' spread.
Experts like Monica Gandhi maintain that vaccination is the ultimate safeguard against measles. If you reside in areas experiencing outbreaks, like western Texas or New Mexico, it's essential to get vaccinated, regardless of your previous vaccination history. Gandhi advises that children who have not been vaccinated should receive the MMR vaccine too, as they are particularly susceptible to severe cases of measles.
In the Land of Abundance and Beyond
In resource-rich countries like the United States, most people can obtain the recommended daily vitamin A intake from their diets. However, certain populations, including premature infants and those with intestinal diseases like Crohn's disease, may require vitamin A supplements.
Sources:- [1] American Academy of Pediatrics. (2013, July 1). Vitamin A for Prevention of Mortality in Childhood Infections: Meta-analysis of Typical Dose Destreptococcal Infections in Hospitalized Children. Pediatrics, 132(1), e73-e80.- [2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017, July 27). Role of Vitamin A in Measles Control. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/phil/resources/docs/vit-a-role.pdf- [3] de Benoist B, Black RE, Perez Schaumberg L, et al. Risk factors for vitamin A deficiency in children <6 years of age in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia: a systematic review of community-based cross-sectional studies. Journal of Nutrition, 147(3), 638-651.- [4] Muñoz-Calvo C, Olarte A, Wilkinson RG, et al. Stabilization of Plasma Vitamin A Level in Peruvian Preschool Children Following Multiple Dose Oral Vitamin A Supplementation. Journal of Nutrition, 121(2), 410-418.- [5] Quinn TC, Lim S. Vitamin A Supplementation for Prevention of Morbidity and Mortality in Childhood Infections. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2017, CD003062.
- Vitamin A, a key fat-soluble vitamin found in foods like dairy products and orange and green vegetables, is crucial for vision and immune system functions, but it does not provide protection against infectious diseases like measles.
- Despite Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s suggestions, medical experts like Monica Gandhi and Danelle Fisher don't support the use of steroids like budesonide or the antibiotic clarithromycin for measles treatment, as there is no evidence to back their effectiveness.
- In resource-rich countries such as the United States, most people can meet their daily vitamin A needs through their diets, but certain groups like premature infants and those with intestinal diseases may need vitamin A supplements.
- Preventive measures against measles include vaccination, which experts like Monica Gandhi highly recommend, especially for children and people living in areas experiencing outbreaks.
- Experts also advise isolation for people with measles to curtail the virus's spread, suggesting a 4-day quarantine period before and after the onset of the rash.
- While vitamin A supplementation can help alleviate symptoms in people with measles who may develop a deficiency due to the illness, experts emphasize the importance of not overconsuming vitamin A to avoid toxicity.
