Inadequate vitamin D levels can lead to brain damage, new research from the University of Kentucky suggests.

The study, published in Free Radical Biology and Medicine, found rats that were fed a diet low in vitamin D suffered free radical damage to the brain and showed a significant decrease in cognitive performace on learning and memory test.

“Adequate vitamin D serum levels are necessary to prevent free radical damage in brain and subsequent deleterious consequences,” lead author Allan Butterfield said in a press release from the University of Kentucky,

Butterfield recommends getting at least 10 to 15 minutes of sun exposure daily to keep vitamin D levels in the appropriate range, according to the press release.

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