A 25-year-old woman sustains a deep, open laceration over her right forearm in a motorcycle accident. The wound is cleaned and sutured. During the next 3 months, the wound heals with formation of a linear scar. Which of the following nutritional factors is required for proper collagen assembly in the scar tissue of the patient?

Vitamin C. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a powerful, biologic reducing agent that is necessary for the hydroxylation of proline residues in collagen. Most of the clinical features associated with vitamin C deficiency (scurvy) are caused by the formation of an abnormal collagen that lacks tensile strength. Patients with vitamin C deficiency exhibit poor wound healing. Dehiscence (bursting open) of previously healed wounds may also occur. None of the other choices are required for collagen assembly.Diagnosis: Wound healing