Mineral
Copper
The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements publishes a recommended amount of Adults 19 years and older 900 mcg, and an upper limit of Adults 10,000 mcg. Read 2026-08-16.
What is Copper?
NIH's fact sheet for Copper carries no line we quote here under this heading.
How much Copper does NIH publish?
| Life stage | Amount | Printed table |
|---|---|---|
| Adults 19 years and older | 900 mcg | Recommended Amount |
| Birth to 6 months | 200 mcg | Recommended Amount |
| Breastfeeding teens and women | 1,300 mcg | Recommended Amount |
| Children 1–3 years | 340 mcg | Recommended Amount |
| Children 4–8 years | 440 mcg | Recommended Amount |
| Children 9–13 years | 700 mcg | Recommended Amount |
| Infants 7–12 months | 220 mcg | Recommended Amount |
| Pregnant teens and women | 1,000 mcg | Recommended Amount |
| Teens 14–18 years | 890 mcg | Recommended Amount |
| Adults | 10,000 mcg | Upper Limit |
| Birth to 12 months | Not established | Upper Limit |
| Children 1–3 years | 1,000 mcg | Upper Limit |
| Children 4–8 years | 3,000 mcg | Upper Limit |
| Children 9–13 years | 5,000 mcg | Upper Limit |
| Teens 14–18 years | 8,000 mcg | Upper Limit |
Children and teens
Rows for children and teens appear in the table above, in NIH's own wording.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Rows for pregnant and breastfeeding life stages appear in the table above, in NIH's own wording.
What upper limit does NIH publish for Copper?
- Adults: 10,000 mcg
- Birth to 12 months: Not established
- Children 1–3 years: 1,000 mcg
- Children 4–8 years: 3,000 mcg
- Children 9–13 years: 5,000 mcg
- Teens 14–18 years: 8,000 mcg
Which foods contain Copper?
NIH's fact sheet for Copper carries no line we quote here about foods.
Where these numbers come from
Every quote and every amount on this page comes from National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Copper — Consumer. Public domain (U.S. Government work). LAFYA read the sheet 2026-08-16.
Read the full fact sheet at NIH Office of Dietary SupplementsWhat LAFYA does not say about Copper
LAFYA publishes no claim that copper does anything in the body, because we cannot prove one.