Over the last few months, several states have been facing a measles outbreak. One of the states with the most cases is Texas. As the outbreak continues in the state, parents who choose not to vaccinate their kids are searching for alternatives. Evidently, a number of parents in West Texas are turning to vitamin A.
Vitamin A has been touted as a way to treat the measles by people like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the current US health secretary. But despite there being some truth to the idea, it’s not a medically sound solution for measles. And now, kids are getting sick because of it.
Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock, Texas, is treating children with severe cases of the measles. Some of those children also have vitamin A toxicity, Texas Public Radio reported. According to the hospital, fewer than 10 children who were hospitalized for complications from measles have elevated levels of the vitamin in their systems. These high levels resulted in abnormal liver function.
Parents are making this decision based on information spread by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. In early March 2025, RFK Jr. wrote an article for Fox News recommending use of the vitamin, TPR reported. He has also directed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to update its guidelines to promote the use of vitamin A.
In a March 4 interview with Fox News, Kennedy suggested that using things like cod liver oil, which contains vitamins A and D, were “working” as treatment for measles.
If you're wondering why RFK talking about vitamin A for measles, it's a distraction
— Ashish K. Jha, MD, MPH (@ashishkjha) March 5, 2025
Vitamin A doesn't treat measles
Vitamin A deficiency (rare in the US) makes measles worse so we use vitamin a for those with deficiency
Here's head of America's leading pediatrics group… pic.twitter.com/PVVzcctxAN
According to TPR, West Texas is reporting a high demand for cod liver oil. The product is reportedly selling well at area pharmacies. However, there is apparently no scientific evidence that this is an effective treatment for the illness.
The World Health Organization recommends giving vitamin A to those who are already sick because complications are more likely in individuals who are deficient in the vitamin. Doctors in Africa use it to treat those with low levels and deficiency due to malnourishment. In the areas of West Texas with toxicity, malnourishment is not an issue.
“Giving Vitamin A to children who are not deficient is, in no way, going to protect them from the measles,” Dr. Linda Yancey with Memorial Hermann Health told KTRK. “You can overdose on vitamin A, and we are beginning to see cases of children with Vitamin A toxicity and liver damage. Please do not give your children Vitamin A in the misguided attempt to prevent the measles. It will not work, and it will harm your children,” she added.
According to the CDC, western Texas currently has about 400 cases of measles. Data from the Texas Department of State Health Services shows children between 5 and 17 making up 164 cases, which is the majority. There are 131 cases of children under 4.
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