Vitamin C is a cofactor for prolyl and lysyl hydroxylase, the enzymes that stabilise the collagen triple helix. That mechanism is well established, and it is the reason a collagen protocol without adequate vitamin C is incomplete.
The authorised GB health claim is precise: vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin, bones, cartilage, gums, teeth and blood vessels. That is the wording to use in clinic materials, patient leaflets and retail displays.
What may not be said is equally important. A food supplement must not be presented as diagnosing, treating, curing or preventing disease, and outcome language implying guaranteed cosmetic results is both non-compliant and commercially fragile.
The practical route for practitioners is to explain the mechanism accurately, cite the authorised claim, and let the treatment plan carry the clinical conversation.
References
- Pullar J.M., Carr A.C., Vissers M.C.M. The roles of vitamin C in skin health. Nutrients, 2017.
- GB nutrition and health claims register, Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.