Menu
Dr. Weil Logo Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
  • Health & Wellness
    Health & Wellness
    Body, Mind & Spirit
    • Addiction
    • Allergy & Asthma
    • Autoimmune Disorders
    • Back Pain
    • Bone & Joint
    • Cancer
    • Colds & Flu
    • Dental & Oral
    • Diabetes
    • Disease & Disorders
    • Ears, Nose, & Throat
    • Feet
    • Gastrointestinal
    • Hair, Skin, & Nails
    • Headache
    • Heart
    • Insects & Parasites
    • Liver & Kidney
    • Mental Health
    • Pregnancy & Fertility
    • Respiratory
    • Sexual Health
    • Sleep Issues
    • Stress & Anxiety
    • Vision
    Balanced Living
    • Exercise & Fitness
    • Gardening
    • Healthy Home
    • Healthy Living
    • Meditation & Inspiration
    • Meet Dr. Weil
    • Pets & Pet Care
    • Technology
    • Wellness Therapies
    Health Centers
    • Aging Gracefully
    • Children
    • Condition Care Guide
    • Men
    • Women
  • Diet & Nutrition
    Diet & Nutrition
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Pyramid
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet Pyramid
    Cooking & Cookware
    Healthy Cooking & Cookware
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Food Safety
    Diets & Nutrition - Food Safety
    Nutrition
    healthy nutrition
    Recipes
    healthy recipes
  • Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Herbs
    herbal remedies - herbs
    Supplements & Remedies
    suppliments & remedies
    Vitamins
    ask-dr-weil_vitamins-supplements-herbs_vitamins-topnav
  • Ask Dr. Weil
  • Blogs
    Blogs
    Bulletins
    The Legacy Of Living Yes | Spontaneous Happiness | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Health Tips
    Healthy Drinks To Start Sipping | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Spontaneous Happiness
    blog_spontaneous-happiness_topnav
  • COVID-19
  • Dr. Weil Origins Skin Care
  • Marketplace
  • Healthy Aging
  • Podcasts
  • Meet Dr. Weil
  • Accessibility
  • Subscribe
Copper
Subscribe
Press "Enter" to search
  1. Home
  2. Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
  3. Supplements & Remedies

Copper

Vegetables | Copper | Supplements & Remedies | Andrew Weil, M.D.
2 min

What is copper?
Copper is an essential trace mineral, present in all body tissues, which plays a role in the formation of connective tissue, and in the normal functioning of muscles and the immune and nervous systems.

Why is copper necessary?
The human body requires copper for normal growth and health. Copper, along with iron, is a critical component in the formation of red blood cells. It also influences the functioning of the heart and arteries, helps prevent bone defects such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, and promotes healthy connective tissues (hair, skin, nails, tendons, ligaments and blood vessels).

What are the signs of a deficiency?
Copper deficiency is rare, but can occur in people who are severely undernourished or who have chronic diarrhea. Disorders that impair nutrient absorption, such as Crohn’s disease, can also lead to copper deficiency, as can high dietary intakes of iron or zinc. Signs of deficiency include bleeding under the skin, damaged blood vessels, hair loss, pale skin, and an enlarged heart. Symptoms include fatigue and, because it plays a role in immunity, imbalances can make you more susceptible to infections.

How much, and what kind, does an adult need?
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the daily recommended amounts:

  • for adults, 900 mcg
  • for pregnant women over age 18, 1,000 mcg
  • and for lactating women over age 18, 1,300 mcg.

How much does a child need?
According to the NIH, the daily recommended amounts:

  • for infants 0-6 months is 200 mcg
  • for infants 7-12 months, 220 mcg
  • for children 1-3 years, 340 mcg
  • for children 4-8 years, 440 mcg;
  • for children 9-13 years, 700 mcg
  • adolescents 14-18 years, 890 mcg.

How do you get enough from foods?
Good food sources include vegetables, legumes, beans, nuts and seeds, mushrooms, shellfish (especially cooked oysters), avocado and whole grains.

Are there any risks associated with too much?
Copper is toxic in large amounts, and acute poisoning can lead to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and even kidney damage, anemia and death. Wilson’s disease is a rare (affecting about one in 30,000 people) inherited disorder in which excessive amounts of copper accumulate in the liver or brain. If you have Wilson’s disease, or a family history of it, do not take supplements containing copper and get regular testing to monitor your copper levels; for more information, see www.wilsonsdisease.org.

Are there any other special considerations?
Boron, vitamin C, selenium, manganese and molybdenum can affect levels of copper in the body. Zinc can lower copper stores, so it is often recommended to take supplemental copper (at a ratio of 1 to 10) if you take supplemental zinc.

Updated by: Andrew Weil, M.D., and Brian Becker, M.D., on Oct. 1st, 2012.

Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging

Start Your 14-Day Free Trial

Free Newsletters

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Follow Dr. Weil’s Food Pyramid

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Exclusive Lifestyle, Nutrition & Health Advice

Dr. Weil's FREE health living advice delivered to you!

By clicking "Subscribe," you agree to the DrWeil.com Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive emails from DrWeil.com, and you may opt out of DrWeil.com subscriptions at any time.

Trending Now

Businessman hand typing on keyboard and working in office in vintage color filter
Supplements & Remedies

A New Kind of Calcium?

Hands Of Woman Deformed From Rheumatoid Arthritis holding pills
Supplements & Remedies

A Supplement to Prevent Alzheimer's

iodine deficient non dairy milk
Supplements & Remedies

Am I Iodine Deficient?

Glass of light beer on the glass bar counter.
Supplements & Remedies

An Antioxidant In Beer?

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil - Get Free Newsletters Right In Your Inbox

Exclusive Lifestyle, Nutrition & Health Advice

Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
Information
  • About Us
  • Press Information
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Manage Email Subscription
Trending Articles
Businessman hand typing on keyboard and working in office in vintage color filter
Supplements & Remedies

A New Kind of Calcium?

Hands Of Woman Deformed From Rheumatoid Arthritis holding pills
Supplements & Remedies

A Supplement to Prevent Alzheimer's

Daily Tips
Do You Need Vitamin K? | Health Tips | Andrew Weil, M.D.
Health Tips

Do You Need Vitamin K?

Is Cooking with Aluminum Harmful? | Andrew Weil, M.D.
Health Tips

Aluminum Cookware: What Are The Concerns?

  • Flickr
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

Information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. You should not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication or other treatment. Any third party offering or advertising on this website does not constitute an endorsement by Andrew Weil, M.D. or Healthy Lifestyle Brands.

©Copyright2023 Healthy Lifestyle Brands, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. www.drweil.com