Which nutrient is most directly linked to collagen synthesis during wound healing?

• A. Zinc
• B. Vitamin C
• C. Protein
• D. Vitamin A

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that making stable collagen fibers depends on a specific chemical step that requires a nutrient as a cofactor. Vitamin C acts as an essential cofactor for the enzymes that hydroxylate proline and lysine in procollagen, and this hydroxylation is what allows collagen to form the stable triple helix and be properly secreted into the wound matrix. Without enough vitamin C, collagen synthesis falters, leading to weaker wound strength and slower healing. Other nutrients support wound repair in important ways—protein provides the amino acids to build collagen, zinc supports various enzymes and remodeling, and vitamin A aids epithelialization—but the direct, critical step of collagen synthesis hinges on vitamin C.