Absolutely not.
Collagen is a protein, and to be absorbed, it only needs to be digested. Vitamin C is needed by our body to synthesize new collagen; to be precise, it is needed to hydroxylate proline and lysine.

Is it necessary to supplement with it? Currently, no one has a definitive answer to this question. I take it because it has many benefits and I get it from natural sources, “Pure Vitamin C” by Dr. Giorgini.

How much vitamin C should you take? It depends on your lifestyle. Be careful: there are intestinal absorption limits because it is mainly absorbed in the small intestine via specific transporters (SVCT1, Sodium-Dependent Vitamin C Transporter 1). Since the number of transporters is limited, as the dose increases, the absorbed percentage decreases.

Reference values in healthy adults:

Single dose Absorption rate
30-100 mg 80–100%
200 mg ~70–90%
500 mg ~50–70%
1000 mg ~40–50%
2000 mg ~20–30%
  • 100 mg ingested → approximately 80–100 mg can be absorbed.
  • 1000 mg ingested → approximately 400–500 mg can be absorbed.
  • The unabsorbed portion remains in the intestinal lumen and is eliminated with the feces.