A British study published this week shows that adolescent girls with higher vitamin D levels had greater muscle power as compared with those who were deficient in “The Sunshine Vitamin” — a finding that adds another vitamin D-related benefit to a growing docket of health effects.

“We know vitamin D deficiency can weaken the muscular and skeletal systems, but until now, little was known about the relationship of vitamin D with muscle power and force,” said lead author of the study Dr. Kate Ward of the University of Manchester.

The results were published in the February Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

The research team looked at 99 adolescent girls between the ages of 12 and 14. “Our study found that vitamin D is positively related to muscle power, force, velocity and jump height in adolescent girls,” Ward said.

Studies have shown that more than half of American adolescent girls are vitamin D deficient and up to 70 percent of British girls may be deficient as well. “These data highlight the importance of vitamin D status on muscle function in adolescent girls. Sub-optimal force might have implications for long-term bone development,” the researchers said in their summary.