Women with high vitamin D levels in their blood following a breast cancer diagnosis¹ are more likely to survive the disease, a new study said last Thursday.

据上周四公布的一项最新研究显示，患乳腺癌的女性如果血液中维生素D的含量较高，那么她的存活率将会更大。

While the mechanisms² for how vitamin D influences breast cancer outcomes are not well understood, researchers believed it may be related to its role in promoting normal mammary-cell development, and inhibiting³ the reproduction of and promoting the death of cancer cells.

尽管维生素D如何影响乳腺癌的机制还没有被很好地理解，但是研究人员认为这也许和维生素D在促进正常乳腺细胞发育、抑制癌细胞产生，以及促进癌细胞死亡过程中的作用有关。

The current study, published by the US journal JAMA Oncology, included 1,666 women who were diagnosed with breast cancer between 2006 and 2013.

目前这份研究被刊载在美国杂志《JAMA肿瘤学》上，研究的对象包括在2006年到2013年之间确诊患有乳腺癌的1666名女性。

These participants provided blood samples within two months of diagnosis and answered questions about diet, lifestyle and other risk factors, with follow-ups at six months and at two, four, six and eight years.

这些参与者提供了确诊患病后2个月内的血液样本，并且回答了有关饮食、生活习惯、以及其他风险因素等问题，后续访问的时间分别是6个月、2年、4年、6年、8年之后。

Vitamin D is a nutrient⁴ best known for its role in maintaining healthy bones, and vitamin D deficiency has been associated with the risk for several cancers.

维生素D是一种营养物质，最为人所知的作用就是保持骨骼的健康，而缺乏维生素D已经被证实会加大患有某些癌症的风险。

Common sources of vitamin D include sun exposure, fatty fish oils, vitamin supplements, and fortified⁵ milks and cereals.

维生素D的常见来源包括晒太阳、鱼油、维生素药物以及强化牛奶和谷物。

"We found that women with the highest levels of vitamin D levels had about a 30 percent better likelihood of survival than women with the lowest levels of vitamin D,"senior author Lawrence Kushi at the Kaiser Permanent Northern California Division of Research, said in a statement.

“凯撒永久”财团北加州研究分支机构的资深作家劳伦斯·库什在一份声明中说道：“我们发现，相比于那些体内维生素D含量最低的女性来说，体内维生素含量最高的女性的存活率要高30%。”

Although the study did not examine the effects of vitamin D intake⁶ from foods versus⁷ supplements, Kushi noted⁸ that it supports the recommended daily levels of vitamin D -- 600 international units for those one to 70 years old and pregnant or breastfeeding women, and 800 international units for those over 71 years old.

虽然这份研究没有对从食物和维生素药物中摄取维生素D这两种方式的影响进行比较，但是库什指出了研究支持的维生素每日推荐摄取水平--不到70岁的女性、孕妇、以及哺乳期的女性每日600国际单位；71岁以上的女性每日摄取800国际单位的维生素D。

"The more we know about vitamin D, the more we understand that it may play a key role in cancer prevention and prognosis," Kushi said. "This study adds to the evidence that vitamin D is an important nutrient."

库什说道：“我们对维生素D了解得越多，我们就越能理解维生素D也许在癌症预防和治疗中起着十分关键的作用。这份研究进一步证明了维生素D是一种非常重要的营养物质。”