The triad of collagen, vitamin C, and vitamin E in aging: emerging roles in mood and psychological health, neurotrophic support, cognitive function, endurance, and sarcopenia.

Aging is correlated with a progressive deterioration in muscle mass, strength, metabolic efficiency, vascular and hepatic functions, immune competence, and cognitive capabilities, predominantly influenced by augmented oxidative stress and compromised anabolic signaling pathways. Prophylactic nutritional interventions, particularly those involving collagen, vitamin C, and vitamin E, have emerged as promising, integrative modulators of these age-related declines, especially when combined with structured exercise regimens. Collagen supplementation delivers critical amino acids that facilitate muscle protein synthesis (MPS) and promote tendon integrity, while vitamin C not only enhances collagen biosynthesis but also demonstrates antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties. Vitamin E, recognized as a lipid-soluble antioxidant, serves to safeguard cellular membranes from oxidative damage induced by exercise and plays a significant role in muscle recovery and vascular health. It should be noted that most current evidence examines single nutrients in isolation rather than the integrated triad, limiting the mechanistic clarity of multi-system interactions. This review synthesizes contemporary evidence derived from randomized controlled trials and preclinical investigations examining the synergistic effects of collagen, vitamin C, and vitamin E in conjunction with various exercise modalities as a preventive strategy in elderly cohorts, rather than a therapeutic treatment for established sarcopenia. This discourse examines the outcomes pertinent to skeletal muscle mass, strength capabilities, oxidative stress levels, immune functionality, vascular and hepatic wellness, in addition to cognitive performance metrics. Collectively, the triadic components appear to confer synergistic advantages by facilitating MPS, alleviating oxidative stress, maintaining immune equilibrium, and augmenting metabolic and cognitive resilience among the geriatric population. Future research should emphasize stratification by population characteristics, baseline nutritional status, and exercise modality to clarify differential responses, and should investigate optimal dosing regimens, timing considerations, and mechanistic interactions of the triad with exercise to maximize functional outcomes in older adults.