Key nutrients to support immunity during measles in the UK

Measles: What it is and how nutritional status influences outcomes 

What is measles? 

Measles (rubeola) is a highly contagious viral infection caused by the measles virus (a morbillivirus). It spreads through airborne droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes and can remain infectious in the air for up to two hours after exposure. 

After infection, the virus initially affects the respiratory tract and then spreads systemically. Symptoms typically appear 7-14 days after exposure and classically include: 

• High fever 
• Cough, runny nose (coryza), and red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis) 
• Koplik spots (small white lesions inside the mouth) 
• A widespread red maculopapular rash that begins on the face and spreads downward. 

Depending on host immunity there can be rare complications such as pneumonia, ear infections, and severe diarrhoea 

How measles affects the body and the role of nutrition in immune resilience 

A critical but often under-discussed determinant of measles severity is nutritional status. Beyond the acute infection, measles is well recognised to induce a period of prolonged immune suppression, increasing vulnerability to secondary infections for weeks to months following recovery.

Children who are nutrient deficient, particularly in vitamin A and Zinc, consistently experience more severe disease and higher complication rates. 

This relationship has been demonstrated repeatedly in global health research and is formally acknowledged by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP). 

Whilst vaccines have always been the cornerstone of prevention, a functional and integrative medicine lens views immune resilience more wholistically, recognising that nutritional status, environment and physiology influence disease expression and outcomes alongside infectious exposure.  

Supporting the immune system during a measles outbreak to improve outcomes 

There is a need to prioritise super-relevant factors like nutrition, environment and behaviour in order to best support overall health, immunity and well-being (e.g. immune-endocrine-metabolic axes). Measles exploits weaknesses in mucosal immunity and overall resilience, which means that if you build a strong foundation it can reduce severity if exposure occurs.  

Vitamin A has the most robust clinical evidence of any nutrient in measles management. This fat-soluble vitamin is vital for mucosal integrity, T-cell function and anti-body production. 

• Measles rapidly depletes vitamin A stores due to damage to epithelial tissues (skin, lungs, gut). 
• Vitamin A deficiency is a major risk factor for severe complications of measles. 
• Vitamin A is vital for the function of vitamin D. 

Vitamin D boosts innate immunity via VDR (vitamin D receptor) signalling, regulates T regulatory cells, helps to reduce excessive inflammation in viral respiratory tract infections.  

Zinc plays a significant role in the maintenance of normal immunological function, supports antiviral defences and may reduce respiratory infection duration. Zinc deficient children are more likely to suffer more if they catch measles.  

Larch arabinogalactans acts as a prebiotic, promoting short-chain fatty acids (SCFA’s) production that supports the gut lung axis to support innate and adaptive immunity. This is particularly relevant for viral infections where upstream mechanisms like mucosal barrier integrity, natural kill (NK) cell activation, and balanced cytokine responses can reduce incidence and severity of respiratory tract infections in children aged 1-10. 

Recommended products:  

BRC Bio-AE Mulsion – 1 drop every other day or 1 drop daily for 4-12 weeks if deficient. 

BRC Bio-D-Mulsion – 1-2 drops daily.   

ARG Metabolic Maintenance Little One - a one a day multivitamin created for children’s unique nutritional needs, especially zinc to support antiviral defences. Zinc has been shown to support immunity and improve outcomes from respiratory infections. For children 6-12 years 1 -2 caps daily. 

Biotics Research IAG™ – Providing a source of Larch Arabinogalactans in an easy-to-use powdered form. A serving size of 1 teaspoon provides 2gm of Arabinogalactans. An excellent source of prebiotic fibre. 

1-3 tspn up to 4x daily, can be blended into water, juice, milk. 

References 

Aaby P, Martins CL, Garly ML, Balé C, Andersen A, Rodrigues A, Ravn H, Lisse IM, Benn CS, Whittle HC. Non-specific effects of standard measles vaccine at 4.5 and 9 months of age on childhood mortality: randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2010 Nov 30;341:c6495. https://tinyurl.com/vy9j665y 

Dinardo G, Indolfi C, Klain A, Grella C, Tosca MA, Miraglia Del Giudice M, Ciprandi G. The Role of Zinc in Pediatric Respiratory Infections: Evidence from Clinical Trials and Real-World Studies. Nutrients. 2026 Feb 7;18(4):557. https://tinyurl.com/ycy4wyap  

Donadel M, Stanescu A, Pistol A, Stewart B, Butu C, Jankovic D, Paunescu B, Zimmerman L. Risk factors for measles deaths among children during a Nationwide measles outbreak - Romania, 2016-2018. BMC Infect Dis. 2021 Mar 19;21(1):279. https://tinyurl.com/4fe32h55  

Johri M, Verguet S, Morris SK, Sharma JK, Ram U, Gauvreau C, Jones E, Jha P, Jit M. Adding interventions to mass measles vaccinations in India. Bull World Health Organ. 2016 Oct 1;94(10):718-727. https://tinyurl.com/2e72wfv8  

Yakoob MY, Salam RA, Khan FR, Bhutta ZA. Vitamin D supplementation for preventing infections in children under five years of age. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Nov 9;11(11):CD008824. https://tinyurl.com/3wwtrpx4  

Zisi D, Challa A, Makis A. The association between vitamin D status and infectious diseases of the respiratory system in infancy and childhood. Hormones (Athens). 2019 Dec;18(4):353-363. https://tinyurl.com/573bsb2d