Essential cofactor for cytochrome c oxidase (Complex IV) in mitochondrial electron transport chain enabling oxidative phosphorylation and ATP synthesis
Cofactor for ceruloplasmin (ferroxidase) which oxidises Fe2+ to Fe3+ enabling iron loading onto transferrin and systemic iron transport
Cofactor for lysyl oxidase which cross-links collagen and elastin in connective tissue, bone, vasculature and skin
Cofactor for Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) catalysing dismutation of superoxide radicals (cellular antioxidant defence)
Cofactor for dopamine beta-hydroxylase converting dopamine to norepinephrine in catecholaminergic neurons
Cofactor for tyrosinase catalysing melanin biosynthesis (hair and skin pigmentation)
Cofactor for peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase (PAM) involved in neuropeptide maturation
Molecular + tissue targets
Cytochrome c oxidase (COX/MT-CO1)
Ceruloplasmin (CP)
Lysyl oxidase (LOX)
Cu/Zn Superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1)
Dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH)
Tyrosinase (TYR)
ATP7A and ATP7B copper transporters
CTR1 (SLC31A1) copper uptake transporter
Dosage range
Adult RDA (US IOM): 900 mcg/day. EFSA AI (2015): 1.3 mg/day (women) and 1.6 mg/day (men). Typical supplement range: 0.5-2 mg/day elemental copper, commonly co-formulated with zinc at approximately 10-15:1 Zn:Cu ratio to prevent zinc-induced copper deficiency. Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL): 10 mg/day (US IOM) / 5 mg/day (EFSA SCF 2003). Common forms: copper bisglycinate, copper gluconate, copper sulfate, cupric oxide (cupric oxide has notably lower bioavailability).
Safety notes
Copper has a relatively narrow therapeutic window. Acute oral toxicity: >10 mg can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain. Chronic excess linked to hepatotoxicity (notably in Wilson disease ATP7B mutations and in idiopathic copper toxicosis). Avoid supplemental copper in Wilson disease. Deficiency typically iatrogenic from excessive zinc supplementation (>40 mg/day chronic), bariatric surgery, or prolonged TPN; presents as anaemia (sideroblastic), neutropenia, and myeloneuropathy. Drug interactions: penicillamine, antacids and high-dose vitamin C may reduce copper status; oral contraceptives and hormone therapy raise serum copper/ceruloplasmin. Not recommended in pregnancy above RDA without clinician supervision. Cupric oxide form has very low bioavailability and should generally be avoided in deficiency-correction regimens.
Cross-market regulatory status
🇺🇸 FDA
DSHEA structure/function framing only. Copper is NOT among the twelve nutrients eligible for 21 CFR Part 101 Subpart E Significant Scientific Agreement (SSA) authorized health claims (which cover calcium, sodium, dietary fat, saturated fat, dietary fiber, fruits & vegetables, folate, sugar alcohols, soluble fibre, soy protein, and plant sterols/stanols). Permissible US labeling is limited to DSHEA-compliant structure/function statements (e.g. "supports connective tissue health", "supports iron metabolism") accompanied by the mandatory FDA disclaimer "This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease." Daily Value (DV) under 21 CFR 101.9: 0.9 mg. Nutrient content claims (e.g. "good source of copper" = >=10% DV; "high in copper" = >=20% DV) are permitted under 21 CFR 101.54.
🇪🇺 EFSA
EFSA Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 (CELEX 32012R0432) Annex authorises 8 health claims for copper under Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, covering: normal connective tissues, normal energy-yielding metabolism, normal functioning of the nervous system, normal hair pigmentation, normal iron transport, normal skin pigmentation, normal function of the immune system, and protection of cells from oxidative stress. EFSA Panel opinions: EFSA Journal 2009;7(9):1211 and EFSA Journal 2011;9(4):2079. Conditions: claims may be used only for foods that are at least a SOURCE OF copper as defined in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 (i.e. >=15% of the NRV per 100 g/100 ml or per serving for non-beverage foods). EFSA AI (2015): 1.3 mg/day (women) / 1.6 mg/day (men). NRV per Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 Annex XIII: 1 mg.
🇧🇷 ANVISA
Copper (cobre) is authorised as a nutrient constituent of food supplements (suplementos alimentares) under ANVISA Instrucao Normativa IN 28/2018 (Anexos I, III, IV) with population-specific minimum and maximum limits. Authorised functional claims for cobre appear in IN 28/2018 Anexo V (Lista de alegacoes autorizadas para uso na rotulagem dos suplementos alimentares). The verbatim Portuguese wording for each cobre claim row in Anexo V could not be retrieved character-for-character via direct PDF retrieval in this drafting pass (BVSMS PDF stream unparseable; multiple HTML mirrors omit the Anexo V table). Authorized_claims entries for ANVISA are intentionally absent pending direct verification against the official BVSMS PDF (https://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/saudelegis/anvisa/2018/int0028_26_07_2018.pdf) Anexo V table before publication, copying the verbatim "O cobre auxilia..." pattern for each authorised function. Subsequent updates: IN 75/2020 (rotulagem nutricional) and the December 2025 update (IN 418/2025) should also be cross-checked.
Authorized claims · verbatim (8)
Direct quotes from each jurisdiction's framework · never paraphrased · with framework reference and conditions of use.
🇪🇺 EFSA · 8 claims
Reg 432/2012
Copper contributes to maintenance of normal connective tissues
Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of copper as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
Reg 432/2012
Copper contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism
Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of copper as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
Reg 432/2012
Copper contributes to normal functioning of the nervous system
Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of copper as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
Reg 432/2012
Copper contributes to normal hair pigmentation
Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of copper as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
Reg 432/2012
Copper contributes to normal iron transport in the body
Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of copper as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
Reg 432/2012
Copper contributes to normal skin pigmentation
Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of copper as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
Reg 432/2012
Copper contributes to the normal function of the immune system
Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of copper as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
Reg 432/2012
Copper contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress
Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of copper as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
Common use cases
Iron metabolism support (ferroxidase activity / anaemia prevention adjunct)
Connective tissue and collagen cross-linking support
Energy-yielding metabolism support
Nervous system normal functioning support
Hair and skin pigmentation support
Immune system normal function support
Cellular antioxidant defence (Cu/Zn-SOD)
Adjunct in zinc-supplementation regimens to maintain Cu:Zn balance
