Vitamin C from food boosts collagen levels in skin

Medical Xpress / University of Otago / Journal of Investigative Dermatology ^ | Dec. 3, 2025 | Juliet M. Pullar et al

[ConservativeMind]

A new study has found that collagen production and skin renewal directly respond to the amount of vitamin C we eat.

The study shows that skin vitamin C levels are closely tied to levels of the vitamin in the blood (plasma) and can be boosted by increasing fruit intake.

Carried out on two dozen healthy adults, the study shows that boosting plasma levels by consuming two vitamin C-rich kiwifruit per day increases the amount of the vitamin in the skin, improving skin thickness (collagen production) and stimulating renewal and regeneration of the outer skin layer.

Professor Vissers says, "We are the first to demonstrate that vitamin C in the blood circulation penetrates all layers of the skin and is associated with improved skin function."

The study comprised two stages. The first stage established the association between plasma and skin vitamin C levels, using healthy skin tissue from patients undergoing elective surgical procedures.

The second stage involved a before-and-after, dietary vitamin C intervention study at two sites (in Christchurch and Germany), each with 12 healthy participants.

The Institute measured skin sample regeneration—including ultrasound tested measures of skin thickness, elasticity, UV protection and renewal of epidermal cells—giving a complete picture of skin function.

"The other really substantial finding showed a significant increase in the participants' skin thickness levels, reflecting collagen production and an upsurge in the regeneration of their epidermal cells, in other words skin renewal," Professor Vissers says.

"We suggest that increasing your dietary vitamin C intake will result in effective vitamin C uptake into all compartments of the skin," Professor Vissers says.

"The important thing is to keep your plasma levels optimal, which we know can be achieved in a healthy person with a vitamin C intake of around 250mg per day. The body, however, does not store the vitamin."

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TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: collagen; skin; vitaminc; vitc

[ConservativeMind]

Ingesting Vitamin C, not applying it on the outside, assures all layers of skin get it and make better, thicker layers of skin for you.

Vitamin C does not stay in the body, so trickling it in throughout the day is best.

[ConservativeMind]

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[glorgau]

Also try pairing with collagen peptides.

[WinMod70]

Anyone on blood thinners should take note of the vitamin K content in kiwifruit and consult a doctor before consuming.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Two kiwi fruit per day?

I doubt I have two per month.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

That might have been true for warfarin blood thinners like Coumadin, but not for Eliquis (apixoban).

Eliquis is a direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) that works by directly inhibiting factor Xa in the coagulation cascade. Unlike warfarin (a vitamin K antagonist), Eliquis does not depend on vitamin K for its mechanism of action.

There is no clinically relevant interaction between vitamin K (dietary or supplemental) and Eliquis. You do not need to limit foods like spinach, kale, broccoli, or Brussels sprouts, and vitamin K will not reverse bleeding if it occurs on Eliquis.

[nagant]

Vitamin C from food boosts collagen levels in skin
~~~~~

Meanwhile, the fructose which accompanies vitamin C foods reduce both collagen production and collagen lifespan. Get your antioxidants by protecting cellular SOD production, by not ingesting fructose, even when it accompanies vitamin C.

[spankalib]

How does one protect SOD production?

In a brief search, Ingesting SOD shows little benefit...it probably doesn't get past the gut (is my guess), but it doesn't seem to be too absorb-able.

Thanks in advance for any info.

[nagant]

How does one protect SOD production?
In a brief search, Ingesting SOD shows little benefit...it probably doesn’t get past the gut (is my guess), but it doesn’t seem to be too absorb-able.
~~~~~

I’m not aware of superoxide dismutase supplementation, and Brave’s AI indicates that SOD is not absorbed well through the gut. SOD is a byproduct of efficient cellular ATP production as the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) interacts with the Krebs chemical energy cycle. Ingested fructose interferes with ETC operation and causes mitochondria to literally produce junk (JNK1 and JNK2).

The process fails to produce SOD. It also creates junk which must be removed by the antioxidant it has just failed to produce.

Take your pick: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=anti-fructose+doctor+lustig