Copper
Foundation
Rarely supplemented on purpose, frequently depleted by accident — usually by zinc.
What the evidence says
Copper deficiency causes anaemia that does not respond to iron, neutropenia and a myelopathy that can mimic B12 deficiency and may not fully reverse. The clinically important context is that it is usually induced rather than dietary — by long-term high-dose zinc, or after bariatric surgery.
What studies used
Requirements sit near 900 mcg/day; the tolerable upper limit is 10 mg. Published studies had not established a preferred timing.
Reported from published studies and product labelling — a record of what was used in research, not a recommendation. What is right for you is a conversation with a clinician.
Watch out for
- Sustained high-dose zinc is the classic cause; the two compete for the same absorption pathway
- Anyone on long-term zinc for acne, colds or "immune support" is running that experiment without measuring it
Evidence base
established literature
Strong human evidence: either a phase 3 or 4 trial report alongside review-level evidence, or ten or more randomised controlled trial reports.
This letter measures how much human research exists, not whether it works for you — the tier above (Moderate) is the read on quality.
Research (12)
- Copper deficiency anemia: review articleAnn Hematol · 2018
- Copper2012
- Transcriptomics and metabolomics analysis reveal the dietary copper deficiency and supplementation effects of liver gene expression and metabolite change in grazing sheepBMC Genomics · 2024
- Copper Deficiency and Polyneuropathy: A Case ReportCureus · 2022
- Maternal dietary copper deficiency induces cardiomyopathy and liver injury in mice by activating autophagyNutr Res · 2024
- Marginal copper deficiency and atherosclerosisBiol Trace Elem Res · 2000
- Association between dietary copper intake and constipation in US adultsSci Rep · 2024
- Copper Supplementation, A Challenge in CattleAnimals (Basel) · 2020
- Dietary copper supplementation enhances lipolysis in Rex rabbitsJ Trace Elem Med Biol · 2021
- Copper bioavailability and requirementsAm J Clin Nutr · 1982
- Copper supplementation reverses dietary iron overload-induced pathologies in miceJ Nutr Biochem · 2018
- Copper deficiency in humansSemin Hematol · 1983
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