Vitamin A Should Not Be Used As A Home Remedy For Measles, Doctors Warn

The first three months of 2025 have seen three measles outbreaks in the US and a total of 378 confirmed cases at time of writing, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Eighteen states are affected and there’s been one confirmed death, with another under investigation. 

While there is a safe and effective vaccine to prevent measles, which is recommended for all kids above the age of 12 months and any adults who may have missed a dose, vaccine hesitancy and fears stoked by antivax activists have led many parents to forego this protection for their kids.

The result is that herd immunity cannot be maintained, and we see more cases of measles. The infection is highly contagious, as the large outbreak originating in Texas earlier this year has demonstrated. Though some parents remain reluctant to get their kids vaccinated, they’re still looking for advice on what else they can do.

Recently, US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr authored an opinion piece for Fox News in which he claimed that vitamin A “can dramatically reduce measles mortality.” While that same article did highlight the importance of vaccination – uncharacteristically, for someone who has repeatedly taken staunchly antivax positions – some parents appear to have taken this as advice to dose their kids with large quantities of vitamin A.

The problem with vitamin A

Vitamin A is an essential nutrient with important roles in the human body – we have even previously drawn attention to misinformation encouraging people to avoid orange fruits and veggies.

It’s basically impossible to overdose on vitamin A by consuming too many carrots, for example, because the body will simply not convert the carotenoids they contain into vitamin A if it’s not needed. But – and this is important – it is definitely possible to overdose on pure vitamin A that is consumed in the form of dietary supplements.

Hypervitaminosis A, as this is known, causes a range of unpleasant symptoms affecting the digestive system, bones, nervous system, and skin. At very high levels, vitamin A can build up in the liver, causing damage to the organ. 

One common supplement that is rich in vitamin A is cod liver oil. Doctors at Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock, Texas, told the New York Times that some children they’ve treated had been given unsafe doses of this and other supplements containing vitamin A in the weeks leading up to their measles infection, in an attempt to prevent it.

“That kind of preventative use I think is especially concerning,” said Dr Lara Johnson. “When we have kids taking it for weeks and weeks, then you do potentially have a cumulative impact of the toxicity.”

Vitamin A may be used as part of hospital treatment for children who are already sick with measles. The CDC and World Health Organization recommend it – but crucially, the guidelines state that this must be under clinical supervision. We’re talking about kids who are already very unwell and are receiving a range of treatments, which may or may not include vitamin A. There is no guidance that suggests vitamin A be used as a preventative.

What does work as a preventative – an impressive 97 percent of the time, to be exact – is two doses of the MMR vaccine. 

“Today is a good day to talk with your pediatrician”

Doctors had already been warning against using vitamin A supplements to try and protect children from measles. Unfortunately, it appears that some are now seeing their fears realized, with some children being harmed as a result of this practice. 

“As a pediatrician, I’ve seen firsthand how children can suffer from diseases like this one, for which we have no cures and still fairly minimal treatments,” Dr Susan J. Kressly, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, wrote for MSNBC.

“To be clear: Vitamin A does not prevent measles. Cod-liver oil, which contains vitamins A and D, does not prevent measles. You also do not actually need high levels of vitamin A to be healthy.”

Kressly added, “If you have questions about the measles vaccine, today is a good day to talk with your pediatrician or another doctor who knows you and knows your child.”

The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.