Should hypermobile people eat collagen?

One of the most common questions I’ve been asked about nutrition in regards to hypermobility and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is if it’s beneficial to supplement with collagen to support your connective tissue.

The short answer is no. There’s no evidence that collagen supplements will strengthen your connective tissue or reduce symptoms.

Why people who are hypermobile or have EDS don’t need to supplement with collagen.

If you’re wondering why, the answer is pretty simple. The human body doesn’t work that way.

Collagen isn’t a vitamin or mineral, so it can’t be supplemented to replenish something that is missing. Also, it’s not that hypermobile people or those with EDS lack collagen. Rather, it’s believed that there’s deficiency in a collagen processing enzyme, which compromises the strength of the collagen and connective tissue.

That people said, hypermobile people or individuals with EDS will benefit from eating in health promoting ways. We need nutrients as much as the next person! We just don’t have to eat collagen to do it.

If you’re curious about practical and evidence based nutrition recommendations for hypermobility, then check out this post.