Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has promoted vitamin A as a treatment for measles, but experts warn of the risks associated with high-dose supplements. While vitamin A can help alleviate symptoms in some patients, it can also cause severe side effects, including liver damage and birth defects.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends vitamin A supplementation only for children diagnosed with measles who have a deficiency. However, Kennedy has used the disease as an example to blame poor diets for severe cases. This approach is not supported by evidence.
In reality, two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine are 93% effective against measles. The current outbreak has led to concerns over vitamin A toxicity, with some unvaccinated patients in Texas showing signs of abnormal liver function and multiple outlets reporting on these cases.
Experts agree that high-dose vitamin A supplements should only be administered under medical guidance. The Council for Responsible Nutrition stated that while vitamin A may help reduce the severity of measles symptoms, its use is a targeted intervention, not a preventive measure.
The CDC reported 483 confirmed measles cases across 20 states as of March 27, with 97% of patients being unvaccinated or having unknown vaccination status. The agency has taken steps to address the outbreak, but concerns remain about the role of vitamin A treatment and the importance of vaccination in preventing the spread of the disease.
Source: https://www.axios.com/2025/03/31/measles-vitamin-a-rfk-jr-toxicity-overdose-texas