As measles cases continue to spread in several U.S. states, people are concerned about preventing highly contagious diseases.
Although vaccines are widely regarded as the first line of defense, some experts believe nutrition plays a role in reducing the severity of the disease.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Watch the full interview with the doctor. Marc Siegel and RFK Jr. In Fox Country
“We need to understand the relationship between good health and chronic diseases,” RFK told Siegel.
As measles cases continue to spread in several U.S. states, people are concerned about preventing highly contagious diseases. (iStock)
“If you are healthy, in modern times, you’re nearly impossible to be killed by an infectious disease – because we have nutrition … medicines can be used. What we need is good science for all these things so that people can make rational choices.”
In the interview, RFK noted that in Texas (there are 200 cases of measles in the current outbreak) could be a factor.
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“The doctors I spoke to community leaders locally reported that the sick person was [malnourished],” he said.
“There is a lot of poverty in that area. [which] RFK added.
In 1963, between 400 and 500 people died of measles each year before the introduction of the vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“The doctors I spoke to community leaders locally reported that the sick person was [malnourished],” said RDK. (iStock)
“Almost all people are malnourished kids,” RFK said. “Measles remains a very, very deadly disease in foreign countries and undernutritional developed countries.”
“The best thing Americans can do is stay healthy – measles kills a healthy, nutritious person very, very difficult.”
“We see a correlation between people injured by measles and people without good nutrition.”
HHS secretary told Siegel that nutrition is essential to preventing overall disease.
“We need to eat good food. We need to eat whole food. We need to do a lot of exercise,” he said.
“We see a correlation between those injured by measles and those without good nutrition or good exercise regimen.”
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Dr. Jacob Glanville, CEO of San Francisco biotech company Centivax, agrees that measles are more likely to seriously affect children in very malnourished developing countries.
“Historically, less than 1% of American children died of measles, while the PAN America group reported that in some developing countries, up to 10% of children died of measles, and in a study of malnourished African babies, it was as high as 25% to 50%.
“Historically, less than 1% of U.S. children die from measles, while the Pan American Health Organization reports that in some developing countries, up to 10% of children die from measles.” (Getty Image)
Granville pointed out that the lack of quality medical services in many areas of developing China has also led to the severity of the disease.
“While better nutrition is important for American children, it is unlikely to make a difference in measles infection or severity – 90% of well-fed but unvaccinated American children will be infected, about 20% of these children will be infected, and 0.1-1% of them will die.”
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malnutrition can damage some immune system responses to many infections — but in the case of measles, the answer is “complex”.
“For example, malnutrition may reduce the robustness of the response to MMR vaccines,” she told Fox News Digital.
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“The vaccine is still effective, but in some cases, additional doses may be required.”
Pell said studies show that children with vitamin A deficiency and living in low- and middle-income countries suffer from measles infections, are at an increased risk of death and blindness, and take longer to get better.
The CDC recommends that adults and adolescents receive one or two doses of MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccination, depending on individual risk factors. (iStock)
“There are no treatments for measles besides supporting care,” she said. “However, in countries where mortality rates are greater than 1% in low- and middle-income countries, the World Health Organization recommends vitamin A (two doses) to reduce the severity of measles and prevent complications.”
The doctor added that the problem is less common in the United States and that vitamin A deficiency is “extremely rare.”
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According to Perl, there has been no formal study on whether providing vitamin A to children with measles in the U.S. or other high-income countries will prevent complications.
However, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends hospitalized children with severe measles to receive two doses of vitamin A supervised by a healthcare provider.
Dr. Jonathan Jennings, a board-certified physician at the Manhattan Medical Office, also noted that several studies have found that nutrition can “severely affect” the clinical process of children infected with measles virus.
“Children who have been malnourished before being infected have an increased risk of fatal outcomes,” he told Fox News Digital.
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“Infection is known to worsen nutritional conditions, which can affect children’s immune system and ability to heal.”
Jennings recommends a balanced diet using a variety of colorful fruits, vegetables, proteins and healthy fats to prevent complications from ever contracting the virus.
One expert suggested a balanced diet using a variety of colorful fruits, vegetables, proteins and healthy fats to prevent complications, which once contracted the virus. (iStock)
“Foods containing vitamin A are particularly useful, such as carrots, spinach and dairy products,” he said.
“Many studies have viewed vitamin A supplementation as a means to prevent eye damage, which is a complication of measles infection.”
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Although proper nutrition is important to prevent many chronic health conditions, Pell stressed that vaccination is the “only documented way” to prevent measles infections and “is the most important action anyone can take.”
“It should be given whether the individual is malnourished.”
“The vaccine has been in use since 1963 and is considered very safe,” she said.
“Individuals should be given whether malnutrition is not given, because this is the only way to prevent measles.”
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RFK also recognized the importance of the vaccine and noted that HHS “make sure that anyone who wants the vaccine can get it.”
“The measles vaccine protects the community,” he told Dr. Siegel. “We recommend people in this country get a vaccine… [and] We also respect their personal choices. ”
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Jennings also reiterated the importance of the vaccine.
“The most effective way to protect and prevent you and your family from getting measles is to get everyone vaccinated,” he said.
The CDC recommends that adults and adolescents receive one or two doses of MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccination, depending on individual risk factors.
