Bacterial vaginosis (BV), a vaginal infection most common in women of childbearing age, may be linked to low levels of vitamin D, according to a new study.

Researchers examined 260 black and 209 white pregnant women at a Pittsburgh clinic and discovered that about 52 percent of black women had BV compared with 27 percent of white women.

Additionally, black women were almost three times more likely to be vitamin D deficient. The reason for the deficiency in black women may be because darker skin prevents adequate synthesis of vitamin D.

BV is treatable with antibiotics, but it can lead to premature birth and is a major cause of infant mortality.

Concerned about your vitamin D status? Lisa M. Bodnar, lead author of the study and an assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh, warned that you shouldn’t overcompensate and take “megadoses of the vitamin.”

Instead, Bodnar advised people to consult a doctor about supplements and other options.

Read RH’s “Take the D Train” to learn how you can add more vitamin D into your diet.