Taking vitamin supplements is something that numerous Americans try as a way to stay healthy. Which nutrients are the most important for proper bodily functioning? Vitamin D is certainly essential, since it is responsible for bone health, cellular growth, nerve function, a balanced inflammatory response and – according to new research – the timing of menstruation.

A clinical investigation conducted by scientists at the University of Michigan School of Public Health found that girls who have too little vitamin D in their systems are twice as likely to experience early menarche, meaning their first instance of menstruation.

These results, which appeared in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, were based on medical records and blood samples taken from 242 girls between the ages of 5 and 12.

Previous studies have established that early menarche can increase the risk of teen social disorders and, in adults, the likelihood of poor heart and breast health.

“We know relatively little about what triggers puberty from an environmental perspective. If we learn what is causing the decline in age of first menstruation, we may be able to develop interventions,” lead author Eduardo Villamor said.