FAN MAIL FRIDAYS: Why You Should take Collagen and Vitamin C together

I saw yesterday that the North has experienced intense flooding. To my TBJ Beshies living in the north, stay safe and I hope you have survived last night's ordeal.

I hope today will be warm, nice, and sunny for all of us!

Ending this week with an FMF from Norhanie. She asks:

Hi Martha,
Can I take 1000mg collagen and 500mg Vitamin C together?
Norhanie

Hello Norhanie!

Thank you for the question. It has been buried in my spam folder (apologies for that!) for quite some time now, but still, I'm answering it because it communicates the importance of knowing which supplements to take together for synergistic benefits.

In this case, Collagen and Vitamin C. You need Vitamin C to further the benefits of Collagen.

Whether topical or oral, Collagen will benefit from Vitamin C. Why? Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) is one of the enzymes that trigger the production of Collagen. How? Here's an excerpt from How Stuff Works:

When collagen is produced, there is a complex series of events, some occurring inside of the cell, and some outside of the cell. Vitamin C is active inside of the cell, where it hydroxylates (adds hydrogen and oxygen) to two amino acids: proline and lysine. This helps form a precursor molecule called procollagen that is later packaged and modified into collagen outside of the cell. 

But I've read in some articles that nothing grave will happen if you don't take Collagen and Vitamin C together due to certain conditions or just by pure preference; it's just that your body won't be able to absorb and utilize as much collagen from topical or oral supplements. As for the dosage, it really depends on your daily requirements, which is dependent on your health condition, weight, and dietary needs; it's best to check with your physician regarding the recommended dose.

And if you can only choose one between the two, medical experts would advise Vitamin C because aside from its antioxidant benefits, little did people know that it contributes so much to the health and beauty of the skin too.

Hope this helps! Happy weekend, everyone!

**Got a burning question on beauty, makeup, skin care, perfume, fitness, exercise, blogging, career, marriage, or anything under the sun? Message me via Contact Form, email me at martha.stabarbara@yahoo.com, or shoot me a message at THE BEAUTY JUNKEE OFFICIAL FACEBOOK FAN PAGE.