Piotr Gromek

Recent advances in micronutrient biology have highlighted the pleiotropic roles of vitamins D and K in central nervous system (CNS) health and disease. Beyond their classical functions in calcium homeostasis, both vitamins exhibit regulatory effects on inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, and gene expression, positioning them as potential modulators in neuro-oncology and neurodegeneration. In gliomas, vitamin D has been shown to influence tumour cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis through vitamin D receptor (VDR)-mediated signalling, while vitamin K—particularly menaquinone—may influence glioma biology through vitamin K-dependent proteins, sphingolipid metabolism, and ferroptosis-related pathways. In neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, deficiencies in vitamins D and K have been associated with increased neuroinflammation, impaired neuronal survival, and dysregulated protein aggregation. Emerging evidence also suggests that these vitamins play a role in brain metabolic homeostasis, particularly in glucose utilization, insulin signalling, and lipid metabolism. This is especially relevant in conditions such as brain insulin resistance and neurodegeneration linked to metabolic syndrome, where disturbances in mitochondrial function and energy metabolism may also contribute to disease progression. This review synthesizes current findings on the shared and independent roles of vitamins D and K in glioma biology, neurodegenerative processes, and brain-related metabolic disorders. It further explores their therapeutic potential as adjunctive strategies in precision medicine, while identifying key gaps for future translational research. However, current evidence remains insufficient to establish either vitamin as a disease-modifying therapy.