Bhubaneswar, May 24 -- London: There is currently insufficient scientific evidence to show vitamin D can be beneficial in preventing or treating COVID-19, say researchers.

Following unverified reports that high doses of vitamin D could reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19 and be used to successfully treat the virus, the new study, published in the journal BMJ, Nutrition, Prevention and Health, investigated the current scientific evidence base on the vitamin and its use in treating infections.

Vitamin D is a hormone, produced in the skin during exposure to sunlight, and helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body, which are needed to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy.

"An adequate level of vitamin D in the body...