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Vitamin C is essential for maintaining connective tissue health because it plays a critical role in collagen synthesis. Collagen is a primary structural protein found in connective tissues such as cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and skin. Vitamin C serves as a cofactor for the enzymes involved in the hydroxylation of proline and lysine, amino acids that are essential for stabilizing the collagen triple helix structure. Without adequate vitamin C, the formation of collagen is impaired, which can lead to weakened connective tissues and issues such as scurvy, characterized by the breakdown of connective tissue and symptoms like joint pain and poor wound healing. Thus, the role of vitamin C in collagen production is vital for maintaining the integrity and health of various connective tissues throughout the body.

The other vitamins listed are important for different bodily functions but do not specifically target connective tissue health in the same way that vitamin C does. For example, vitamin A is essential for vision and immune function, vitamin B12 is crucial for red blood cell formation and neurological function, and vitamin D is primarily involved in calcium metabolism and bone health. Each of these vitamins contributes to overall health, but when it comes to connective tissue specifically, vitamin C is the key nutrient.