mineral
Copper supplements
Half of the 6,468 copper supplements in the NIH label database that print an amount list 1 mg or less per serving; the middle half list 0.5 mg to 2 mg, and 1 in 1,067 of the 6,401 with a plausible amount give more than the adult upper limit at the most servings their labels direct (DSLD version 9.4.0, January 2026). The 60 products whose only supplement ingredient is copper list a median of 2 mg, and 1 in 60 of them give more than the upper limit.
- Products listing it
- 6,7826,468 print an amount; 280 list it inside a blend without an amount
- Median per serving
- 1 mgmiddle half 0.5 mg to 2 mg
- FDA Daily Value
- 0.9 mgthe median is 111% of it
- Adult upper limit (IOM)
- 10 mg6 products go above it a day
How much copper do supplements contain?
The median product lists 1 mg per serving. One in ten lists 0.2 mg or less, one in ten 2 mg or more. The amount printed most often is 2 mg (1,866 products).
Products by amount of copper per serving
6,493 products, log scale; extreme 0.2% at each end left out of the drawing.
| Amount per serving | Products | For example |
|---|---|---|
| 2 mg | 1,866 | Amino Acid Chelated Copper 2 mg (Vitamin World); Sport (GNC Mega Men); Maximum Nutrition Vanilla Bean (GNC Mega Men) |
| 1 mg | 1,271 | Complete Minerals Ultra Strength (Viva Vitamins); One 'N' Only Men's Formula (Pure Essence Labs); Nitro-Tech S'Mores Sensation (MuscleTech) |
| 0.5 mg | 765 | Green Source (Radiance); Women's Midlife Formula (Botanic Choice); R4yt (Exakta) |
| 0.2 mg | 268 | Super Joint Formula (Vitabase); Thyroid Support (Vitabase); Vita-Kids (Douglas Laboratories) |
| 0.9 mg | 235 | Pixie Vites (Dr. Fuhrman); Organic All-In-One Decadent Chocolate (Purely Inspired); Nitro-Tech Advanced Protein Bar Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip (MuscleTech) |
| 1.5 mg | 195 | LifeEssence (Pure Essence Labs); Dark Rage Blue Raspberry (MHP Maximum Human Performance); MinRx (XYMOGEN) |
| 3 mg | 150 | Coral Calcium Plus (MicroTech Professional Formulations); Basic Plus (Life Zone); Stress B-Complex with C & Zinc (Nature's Bounty) |
| 0.25 mg | 123 | Multi Vitamin With Minerals (Radiance Select); Nitro-Tech Crunchy Chocolate Crisp (MuscleTech); Ultra Vite 75 II Low Allergenicity (Douglas Laboratories) |
| 0.1 mg | 112 | Active Man's Formula (Vitabase); Healthy Weight Formula (Vitabase); Energetic Mens Formula Multi Vitamin Plus (Meijer Naturals) |
| 0.3 mg | 101 | Nitro-Tech Delicious Vanilla Swirl (MuscleTech); GTC Formula (Bronson); Cholo-Pak (Douglas Laboratories) |
Source: Supplement Facts rows of every product's current label, NIH ODS Dietary Supplement Label Database version 9.4.0; amounts in one measure (weight).
How do the amounts compare with the Daily Value and the upper limit?
The FDA Daily Value for copper is 0.9 mg (adults and children 4 and older). The median product gives 111% of it per serving; the 90th percentile 222%.
The adult Tolerable Upper Intake Level is 10 mg a day (total intake from food, water and supplements). At the most servings their labels direct, 6 of the 6,401 products with a plausible amount (0.1%) give more than that from the supplement alone (what counts as plausible).
The upper limit is for total intake from food, water and supplements unless stated, and does not apply under medical supervision. A label amount is what the maker printed. This is data, not advice: the NIH ODS fact sheets explain what each nutrient does.
Sources: 21 CFR 101.9(c)(8)(iv) (Daily Values); Institute of Medicine, DRI summary tables (2011) (upper limits); on reading them, the FDA's Daily Value page.
Which products list the most copper?
On-market products, per serving, with a plausible amount: the rule leaves out likely entry slips, such as an amount far beyond every other label with no %DV or strength on the label to back it (each product page still shows its own amount, marked).
- Copper Bisglycinate 8 mgDr. Mercola8 mg
- Osteo Therapy+Pharmaden7 mg
- Chlorofresh UnflavoredNature's Way6 mg
- Chlorofresh Liquid Chlorophyll Mint FlavoredNature's Way6 mg
- Forever VisionForever5 mg
- AM PackDouglas Laboratories5 mg
- Toki ColorLaneLabs5 mg
- Chloropure Liquid Chlorophyll Mint FlavorCountry Farms5 mg
Have the amounts changed over the years?
Products whose current label entered DSLD in 2011 list a median of 1.05 mg; those entered in 2025, 1 mg.
| Year | Products | Median per serving |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 167 | 1.05 mg |
| 2012 | 504 | 1 mg |
| 2013 | 574 | 1 mg |
| 2014 | 321 | 1 mg |
| 2015 | 274 | 1 mg |
| 2016 | 309 | 1 mg |
| 2017 | 347 | 1 mg |
| 2018 | 251 | 1 mg |
| 2019 | 344 | 1 mg |
| 2020 | 590 | 1 mg |
| 2021 | 527 | 1 mg |
| 2022 | 628 | 1 mg |
| 2023 | 546 | 1 mg |
| 2024 | 592 | 1 mg |
| 2025 | 519 | 1 mg |
Source: DSLD label entry dates and amounts, current labels.
In which products and brands?
Products listing copper by DSLD product type
Brands listing it most: Douglas Laboratories (170), Nature's Way (149), Nature's Plus (100), Bronson (62), Metagenics (56), Country Life (53), Bluebonnet (51), Vitamin World (50), NOW (49), Rainbow Light (47).
Every product listing copper
6,782 products, A to Z by name (page 90 of 136), each with the amount its label prints; an amount far outside what other labels print is marked as a possible slip.
- Ortho Multi Softgels for Men Iron FreeProtocol For Life Balance0.5 mg
- Ortho Multi Softgels for WomenProtocol For Life Balance1 mg
- Ortho Multi Women's 40+Protocol For Life Balance1 mg
- Ortho ThyroidProtocol For Life Balance · off the market1 mg
- OrthoDetoxProtocol For Life Balance · off the market0.5 mg
- Os-Cal UltraGlaxoSmithKline1 mg
- OspMannatech0.8 mg
- Osteo Bi-Flex NutraJoint with Gelatin Drink Mix UnflavoredOsteo Bi-Flex0.4 mg
- Osteo Bi-Flex NutraJoint with Glucosamine Drink Mix UnflavoredOsteo Bi-Flex0.4 mg
- Osteo Complex 400Chiropractor's Blend2 mg
- Osteo SAPNFH0.333 mg
- Osteo SAP (Boron-free)NFH0.333 mg
- Osteo SupportVitabase1 mg
- Osteo Support PlusBioGenesis Nutraceuticals · off the market1 mg
- Osteo Therapy+Pharmaden7 mg
- Osteo-B PlusBiotics Research Corporation2 mg
- Osteo-BuildRainbow Light · off the market2 mg
- Osteo-GuardHighland Laboratories1 mg
- Osteo-Mins AMProgressive Professional from Progressive Laboratories1 mg
- Osteo-Support FormulaDouglas Laboratories1.5 mg
- Osteo-TechBio-Tech Pharmacal1 mg
- Osteo-Vi-MinAllergy Research Group0.25 mg
- Osteo-Vi-MinNutriCology0.25 mg
- OsteoActivDaVinci Laboratories Of Vermont2 mg
- OsteoBalancePure Encapsulations1 mg
- OsteoBlendVitanica0.75 mg
- OsteoDefenceSwiss BioEnergetics1 mg
- OsteodrinkVitanica1.5 mg
- OsteoForceDesigns for Health1 mg
- OsteoForce SupremeDesigns for Health1 mg
- OsteoGenesisBioGenesis Nutraceuticals · off the market0.5 mg
- OsteoGenesisNutra BioGenesis0.5 mg
- OsteoGenesis ESBioGenesis Nutraceuticals · off the market1 mg
- OsteoGenesis ESNutra BioGenesis1 mg
- OsteoLogic ProPhysioLogics · off the market0.25 mg
- OsteoMatrixShaklee0.05 mg
- OsteoPrevOrtho Molecular Products1 mg
- OsteoPrimeNature's Way2 mg
- Osteoprime ForteIntegrative Therapeutics2 mg
- OsteoPrime PlusNature's Way · off the market2 mg
- OsteoPrime Plus Calcium & MagnesiumNature's Way2 mg
- Osteoprime UltraIntegrative Therapeutics2 mg
- OsteoPurePureFormulas1 mg
- OsteoSelectMoss Nutrition0.5 mg
- OsteoSense PlusNatural Factors WomenSense0.5 mg
- OsteoSheathVinco's · off the market3 mg
- OsteoSheathVinco3 mg
- OsteoSheath 4Vinco's · off the market3 mg
- OsteoSheath 4Vinco3 mg
- OsteoStrongTerry Naturally2 mg