Past studies have revealed that low Vitamin D levels are linked to an increased risk of colds. The new study, however, is the first study to prove that supplementing children’s intake of the vitamin will reduce the risk of colds.

The study analyzed 247 third and fourth graders in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. This particular city was chosen because of the climate and the amount of time children spend playing outside in the sun. Foods and milk in Mongolia are not normally supplemented with Vitamin like they are in the U.S., Canada and other parts of the world.

According to the study, the children began with an average of 7 nanograms of Vitamin D per millileter. A level lower than 20 nonograms is deemed a deficiency. 104 students were given milk with no Vitamin D and the remainder received daily milk with 300 international units of Vitamin D. The results showed that after three months, the children’s parents were interviewed and it was determined that “the children who received Vitamin D supplements had 50% fewer colds.”