L-4-HYDROXYPROLINE
Hydroxyproline is a major component of the all important body protein collagen. Hydroxyproline and proline play key roles for collagen stability. The only other mammalian protein which includes hydroxyproline is elastin. For this reason, hydroxyproline content has been used as an indicator to determine the collagen content of various tissues. Proline hydroxylation requires ascorbic acid (Vitamin C). When humans are deficient in Vitamin C, both the hydroxyproline and the collagen that are made are defective and tissues like the hair and gums that have a high collagen/ elastin content break down, resulting in the clinical syndrome known as “scurvy”.
