Getting the right amount of vitamin D each day is important for dozens of processes in the human body, which is why many people try to remember to take vitamin supplements as regularly as possible. New research has shown that this practice may keep the blood vessels healthy.

Scientists with the Emory/Georgia Tech Predictive Health Institute recently announced that having low blood levels of vitamin D appears to correlate with stiffer arteries.

They announced this finding at the annual conference of the American College of Cardiology, after conducting a study on more than 500 middle-aged participants.

Nearly half of these individuals had levels of the nutrient considered either deficient or insufficient. Those who improved their vitamin D levels over a six-month period tended to experience improvements in their blood vessels’ flexibility and ability to enlarge to accommodate increases in pressure.

Those who worry that they are not getting enough vitamin D—which is found in just a few natural food sources—may consider looking into multivitamins and herbal supplements for their daily dose of the nutrient.