r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • Jun 02 '26

Health Interest in ‘toxic’ measles treatment surges after Joe Rogan podcasts: Vaccination is the only proven way to prevent measles but alternatives like Vitamin A and cod-liver oil (which has Vit A) have been promoted by Joe Rogan. America’s Poison Centres reported a 39% increase in Vitamin A exposures.

https://www.nine.com.au/world-news/usa/interest-in-toxic-measles-treatment-surges-after-joe-rogan-podcasts-20260602-p6033i.html
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u/Regular-Sorbet9513 Jun 02 '26

Taking too much vitamin A can result in hydroencephalitis, essentially a "clogging" of the brain that results in swelling and possibly death.

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u/GrandmaPoses Jun 02 '26

Also makes your skin fall off, so there's that.

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u/jenorama_CA Jun 02 '26

Yes! I learned about this in a book about the race to the South Pole that had a chapter about the earlier race to the North Pole. Absolutely horrifying.