Why is vitamin C important for collagen?

Vitamin C plays a crucial role in collagen synthesis and skin health, as outlined by Andrew Huberman on the Huberman Lab. One key reason is that vitamin C is essential for the hydroxylation of proline and lysine, two amino acids necessary for collagen formation. This process helps stabilize the collagen structure and enhances skin elasticity and appearance 1. Vitamin C also acts as an antioxidant, reducing oxidative stress that can degrade collagen over time 2. Combining hydrolyzed collagen supplements with vitamin C may enhance skin composition, reduce wrinkles, and improve skin elasticity 3. It's often recommended to ingest 500 to 1000 milligrams of vitamin C along with collagen to optimize these benefits 4.