In the newest in a line of studies showing the potential value of vitamin D, new research from Johns Hopkins University shows that not getting enough of the so-called “sunshine vitamin” may increase the risk of early death by more than a quarter.

Researchers used data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and looked at people’s vitamin D levels and then death from various causes. While the risk of death for people with low vitamin D from any single cause was only slightly elevated, the broader picture showed a 26 percent increase in death rates.

“[Low] vitamin D levels seem to confer an increased risk of dying from any cause,” said Dr. Erin Michos, a cardiologist at Johns Hopkins, and one of the lead investigators of the study.

She said that the study showed an association between low vitamin D and death from heart disease, and said further study may reveal vitamin D to be a sign of impending heart disease.