New Delhi, March 11 (IANS): With the cases of deadly novel coronavirus (COVID-19) spiking sharply across the world, everyone is focusing on preventive measures and the health experts here stressed that though there are no scientific evidences to support the fact that intake of vitamin C aids in prevention of the virus, it helps in improving the immune functions.

In the last four months, coronavirus has killed more than 4,000 people and infected at least 119,292 lives globally after it broke out in China last December.

According to Inder Mohan Chugh, Director, Pulmonology at Max Super Speciality Hospital in New Delhi, vitamin C is a natural immunity booster and helps in improving the immune functions, keeping the body away from various types of ailments, its prevention for coronavirus has not been proven yet.

"Though there are no scientific evidences to support the fact that intake of vitamin C (in both forms direct or additional supplementation) in prevention of the COVID-19, but vitamin C is helpful in increasing the production of white blood cells and to fight infections," Chugh told IANS.

"Including a healthy diet, it is also advised to avoid eating processed food, non-veg, and avoid travelling to crowded places. As safety measures provided by the government, people should wash their hands regularly, avoid travelling if possible to other countries," Chugh suggested.

So far, several cases of COVID-19 have been reported from the various states in India.

"Vitamin C is not an antiviral drug, it is an antioxidant and anticytokine drug. In coronavirus there's a lot of inflammation inside the body, which affects the lungs also, and vitamin C in a good high dose is a very good anti inflammatory drug," Rajeev Gupta, Director, Internal Medicine at Fortis Hospital in New Delhi, told IANS.

"So, that is the only option at this moment that we can use to curb the inflammation to a certain extent. However, this is not an antidote to the virus. There are trials still going on, vitamin C can be considered a better option in terms of reducing the inflammation and the cytokines levels," Gupta said.

He also added that vitamin C may be a good option to reduce down the inflammation. The doses of vitamin C can be given either in the injectable form or the oral tablet form.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the most effective way to protect yourself against coronavirus is by frequently cleaning of your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or washing them with soap and water.

People should eat only well-cooked food, avoid spitting in public, and avoid close contact, the WHO said, adding that it is important for people to seek medical care at the earliest if they become sick.