Those with allergies or asthma symptoms may want to consider taking vitamin D supplements as researchers found that patients who had lower levels of the nutrient were more likely to suffer from asthma symptoms.

According to a study published in the Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, lower levels of vitamin D were linked to lower lung function and greater medication use of children with asthma. The scientists observed that of the 100 asthma patients they studied, 47 percent of them had insufficient vitamin D levels.

This could be a way for parents who are hesitant to give their children medication an alternative health resource by using vitamin D as a way to combat asthma symptoms.

Researchers also pointed out that vitamin D could possibly affect steroid activity, which could possibly be the reason that patients need more medication in order to feel the effects. The scientists pointed out that further research would need to confirm this notion.

“If future studies confirm these findings vitamin D may help asthma patients achieve better control of their respiratory symptoms with less medication,” said senior author Donald Leung, M.D.