A striking 13-degree temperature differential underscores the absolute necessity of vitamin C in collagen biology. Unhydroxylated collagen—collagen synthesized without adequate vitamin C—denatures at approximately 24°C. Human body temperature, however, maintains a constant 37°C. This means unmodified collagen cannot survive in your body; it literally melts under normal physiological conditions. The hydroxylation process, catalyzed by the enzyme prolyl hydroxylase and dependent on vitamin C as a cofactor, enables the chemical modifications that stabilize collagen’s triple-helix structure. When vitamin C is present, collagen remains stable at body temperature. This biochemical reality, documented in research spanning decades, reveals a fundamental flaw in many supplement formulations: they neglect to account for the continuous vitamin C consumption required throughout the hydroxylation cycle. Without adequate co-administration of vitamin C, collagen supplements cannot achieve their intended biological function.
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