Consuming enough vitamin D is a crucial part of the daily human diet, which means that individuals who get too little of the nutrient may want to purchase a vitamin supplement in order to avoid a deficiency. According to new research, taking such dietary supplements may include another health benefit – the reduced risk of heart disease.

A study presented at an annual meeting of the American Physiological Society indicated that African-American adults who were given a monthly dose of vitamin D experienced reductions in the symptoms of atherosclerosis.

Researchers gave overweight black adults monthly shots of 60,000 international units (IU) of the nutrient. They explained this high dose by saying that a monthly injection could improve compliance in the vitamin regimen. The team added that since vitamin D’s half-life is three weeks, the dose was roughly equivalent to taking 2,000 IU per day.

After four months, participants who’d taken the vitamin D shots displayed better flexibility and dilation of the arteries. The study’s authors concluded that vitamin D supplements may improve cardiovascular health and reduce the risk of weight-related heart disease.