Taking a daily vitamin supplement is a routine that has helped millions of Americans improve their senses of health, energy and well-being. Now, experts at Yeshiva University’s Albert Einstein College of Medicine have announced that maintaining adequate nutrition appears to be linked to lower allergy rates in children.

A report published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology found that children who have vitamin D deficiencies had higher rates of 11 common allergens. These substances included ragweed, oak pollen, dog dander, cockroach leavings and food allergens.

The team came to this conclusion after analyzing blood samples taken from more than 6,000 children and adults during the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey five years ago.

The link between vitamin D deficiencies and allergies did not appear among adults. Researchers were careful to note that these findings suggest an association but not necessarily a root cause. Taking vitamin D is not guaranteed to treat allergies.

However, they noted that children should always consume an adequate diet, including 600 international units (IU) of vitamin D each day.

Adults who want to maintain proper nutrition and to give the body plenty of vitamins and minerals with which to regulate itself, may consider taking a daily dietary supplement.