Vitamin A as measles treatment? RFK Jr.'s comments spark discussion of benefits and risks

As measles cases proceed to look successful respective U.S. states, attraction and prevention is apical of mind.

As astir infected individuals person been unvaccinated, school-aged children, U.S. wellness agencies person stressed the value of receiving 2 doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine to forestall the disease.

In a caller Fox News Digital op-ed, HHS caput RFK Jr. shared his "deep concern" astir the measles outbreak and its accelerated escalation.

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RFK noted that portion determination is nary approved antiviral for measles, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a connection past week supporting the medication of vitamin A nether doc supervision as supportive care.

Previous probe published successful the International Journal of Epidemiology has shown that vitamin A, successful conjunction with the measles vaccine, tin beryllium an effectual involution successful preventing measles mortality successful children.

RFK reiterated the value of maintaining good nutrition and consuming assorted vitamins — similar A, B12, C, D and E — arsenic the "best defence against" chronic and infectious illness.

"Vitamin A tin beryllium adjuvant arsenic portion of a broader attraction protocol, particularly successful areas wherever children are deficient."

While studies person suggested that vitamin A tin assistance combat a measles infection, Neil Maniar, PhD, MPH, prof of nationalist wellness signifier astatine Northeastern University successful Boston, reiterated that it does not forestall the disease.

"The two-dose MMR vaccine is our safest and astir effectual instrumentality to forestall this highly contagious illness," helium told Fox News Digital.

The CDC recommends regular doses of vitamin A astatine 50,000 IU for infants younger than 6 months of age, 100,000 IU for infants 6 to 11 months of age, and 200,000 IU for children 12 months of property and older. (iStock)

"Vitamin A tin beryllium adjuvant arsenic portion of a broader attraction protocol, particularly successful areas wherever children are deficient."

Vitamin A tin trim the severity of measles symptoms, arsenic good arsenic the likelihood of mortality from the illness successful individuals who are vitamin A-deficient, the adept noted.

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"For children who are diagnosed with some measles and vitamin A deficiency, receiving age-appropriate doses of vitamin A whitethorn trim the likelihood of progression to terrible unwellness oregon death," helium added.

The adept warned that vitamin A tin beryllium harmful successful precocious doses, truthful it’s "critical that vitamin A is not viewed arsenic the superior people of attraction for each measles cases."

Experts stressed that vitamin A is not an alternate to the MMR vaccine and volition not forestall measles. (iStock)

Dr. Daniel Kuritzkes, main of the Division of Infectious Diseases astatine Brigham and Women's Hospital successful Boston, stated that vitamin A deficiency is communal successful processing countries, coinciding with an accrued measles mortality successful those areas.

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During an interrogation with Fox News Digital, Kuritzkes referenced probe from the Harvard-Chan School of Public Health successful 1993, which "favored a benefit" of vitamin A supplementation successful the simplification of measles mortality for children successful "resource-limited settings" oregon processing nations.

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Saahir Khan, MD, infectious illness adept with Keck Medicine of USC successful Los Angeles, agreed that vitamin A is not a nonstop attraction for measles.

"Rather, children who person vitamin A deficiency, arsenic occurs chiefly successful resource-limited settings similar sub-Saharan Africa, person been shown to person much terrible disease manifestations from measles and tin payment from vitamin A supplementation to close their underlying deficiency," helium echoed to Fox News Digital.

"Vitamin A supplementation has not been shown to forestall measles corruption and is successful nary mode a substitute for vaccination, which has a proven payment successful preventing measles," 1 doc noted. (iStock)

"Studies person not shown a clear, accordant payment to vitamin A supplementation among patients successful resource-rich settings similar the United States who bash not person underlying vitamin A deficiency."  

Although vitamin A is "unlikely to harm the patient" successful due doses, Khan shared that controlled studies "do not enactment this practice."

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The CDC recommends vitamin A supplementation lone nether the guidance of a healthcare professional, which Kuritzkes said is "critically important" to guarantee that the close dose is administered.

"Inappropriate dosing tin effect successful toxicity and a information known arsenic hypervitaminosi, a wellness occupation caused by excessively overmuch vitamin A," helium cautioned.

Vitamin A tin beryllium harmful successful precocious doses and tin pb to a information called hypervitaminosis, a doc cautioned. (iStock)

"Thus, radical should not beryllium administering generic vitamin A supplements purchased astatine a pharmacy oregon wellness nutrient store to their children."

Maniar, Kuritzkes and Khan each emphasized that vitamin A is not a vaccination alternative, arsenic the MMR vaccine is the "most almighty tool" successful preventing and controlling outbreaks.

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"It is captious that we enactment successful concern with communities to amended individuals and families astir the value of the MMR vaccine and guarantee that this vaccine is disposable to each who request it," Maniar added.